The 2026 Mid-American (MAC) Baseball Championship schedule takes place from May 20-24, 2026, at ForeFront Field in Avon, OH. The 6-team, double-elimination bracket opens Wednesday, May 20, with the No. 3, 4, 5, and 6 seeds squaring off. The top two seeds receive first-round byes and enter the bracket on May 21 via a reseeding mechanic – the No. 1 seed faces the lowest-seeded advancing team, and the No. 2 seed faces the higher-seeded advancing team. All games Wed through Sun will air on ESPN+, with the Championship Game on Sat, May 23 at 6:00 PM ET.
🏆 2026 MAC Baseball Tournament Champion: NIU
NIU captured the 2026 MAC Baseball Tournament title (May 20-24), at ForeFront Field in Avon, OH.
Champion: No. 4 Northern Illinois won the 2026 MAC Baseball Tournament, defeating No. 3 Toledo 5-1 in the final, and earns the Mid-American Conference automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It is NIU’s first MAC Tournament title.
Live update (May 24, 2026): The tournament at ForeFront Field in Avon, Ohio is complete. Northern Illinois went unbeaten and beat Toledo 5-1 for the title. Final results are below.
MAC Tournament Results
| Game | Matchup | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No. 3 Toledo vs No. 6 Ball State | Toledo 8, Ball State 2 |
| 2 | No. 4 Northern Illinois vs No. 5 Western Michigan | Northern Illinois 11, Western Michigan 0 |
| 3 | No. 5 Western Michigan vs No. 6 Ball State | Western Michigan 8, Ball State 6 – Ball State eliminated |
| 4 | No. 4 Northern Illinois vs No. 1 Miami (OH) | Northern Illinois 6, Miami (OH) 5 (15 inn.) |
| 5 | No. 3 Toledo vs No. 2 Kent State | Toledo 8, Kent State 0 |
| 6 | No. 2 Kent State vs No. 5 Western Michigan | Kent State 6, Western Michigan 1 – Western Michigan eliminated |
| 7 | No. 2 Kent State vs No. 1 Miami (OH) | Kent State 3, Miami (OH) 1 – Miami eliminated |
| 8 | No. 4 Northern Illinois vs No. 3 Toledo | Northern Illinois 10, Toledo 3 |
| 9 | No. 3 Toledo vs No. 2 Kent State | Toledo 5, Kent State 2 – Kent State eliminated |
| Final | No. 4 Northern Illinois vs No. 3 Toledo | Northern Illinois 5, Toledo 1 – NIU wins the title |
2026 MAC Baseball Tournament Schedule
The 2026 Mid-American Conference Baseball Championship runs Wednesday, May 20 through Sunday, May 24 at ForeFront Field in Avon, Ohio (home of the Lake Erie Crushers). Six teams compete in a modified double-elimination bracket; Miami (OH) is the No. 1 seed. All games air on ESPN+. All times Eastern.
2026 MAC Tournament Seedings
- Miami (OH)
- Kent State
- Toledo
- Northern Illinois
- Western Michigan
- Ball State
| Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 20 – First Round | ||||
| Wed, May 20 | 1 | [3] Toledo vs [6] Ball State | Final | Toledo 8, Ball State 2 |
| Wed, May 20 | 2 | [4] Northern Illinois vs [5] Western Michigan | Final | Northern Illinois 11, Western Michigan 0 |
| Thursday, May 21 | ||||
| Thu, May 21 | 3 | Ball State vs Western Michigan (elimination) | Final | Western Michigan 8, Ball State 6 |
| Thu, May 21 | 4 | [1] Miami (OH) vs [4] Northern Illinois | Final | Northern Illinois 6, Miami (OH) 5 |
| Thu, May 21 | 5 | [2] Kent State vs [3] Toledo | Final | Toledo 8, Kent State 0 |
| Friday, May 22 (Today) | ||||
| Fri, May 22 | 6 | Western Michigan vs Kent State (elimination) | 10:00 AM | TBD |
| Fri, May 22 | 7 | Winner G6 vs Miami (OH) (elimination) | 2:00 PM | TBD |
| Fri, May 22 | 8 | Northern Illinois vs Toledo (winners bracket final) | 6:00 PM | TBD |
| Saturday, May 23 | ||||
| Sat, May 23 | 9 | Winner G7 vs Loser G8 (elimination) | 12:30 PM | TBD |
| Sat, May 23 | 10 | MAC Championship (Winner G8 vs Winner G9) | 6:00 PM | TBD |
| Sunday, May 24 | ||||
| Sun, May 24 | 11 | If necessary | 12:00 PM | TBD |
MAC Baseball FAQ
Where is the 2026 Mid-American (MAC) Baseball Tournament being played? The tournament is being held at ForeFront Field in Avon, OH, the home of the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League.
How can I watch the MAC Baseball Tournament? The entire tournament is broadcast on ESPN+.
How many teams make the Mid-American (MAC) Baseball Tournament? The top 6 teams in the conference standings qualify.
What are the tiebreaker rules for seeding? Seeding is determined by conference winning percentage. If teams are tied, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, followed by record against common MAC opponents.
College Baseball Resources
2026 D1 Baseball Tournament: Master Schedule & CWS Guide
2026 College Baseball Postseason Hub
2026 NCAA DI Baseball & College World Series Schedule
