The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) is one of the oldest and most respected mid-major leagues in men’s college basketball, and the 2026-27 season runs from November 2026 through Arch Madness, the conference tournament held March 4-7, 2027 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Valley sends its tournament champion to the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid, and in strong years it can earn at-large bids as well. Here are the 11 teams, the tournament details and a free printable standings tracker.
2026-27 Missouri Valley Conference: Quick Facts
| Teams | 11 |
| Season | November 2026 to March 2027 |
| Conference tournament | Arch Madness, March 4-7, 2027 |
| Tournament host | Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri |
| NCAA bid | Automatic bid to the tournament champion |
2026-27 Missouri Valley Teams
The Valley fields 11 programs across the Midwest and Mid-South. Printable individual team schedules are being added for each school.
| Team | Location |
| Belmont Bruins | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Bradley Braves | Peoria, Illinois |
| Drake Bulldogs | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Evansville Purple Aces | Evansville, Indiana |
| Illinois State Redbirds | Normal, Illinois |
| Indiana State Sycamores | Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Murray State Racers | Murray, Kentucky |
| Northern Iowa Panthers | Cedar Falls, Iowa |
| Southern Illinois Salukis | Carbondale, Illinois |
| UIC Flames | Chicago, Illinois |
| Valparaiso Beacons | Valparaiso, Indiana |
Arch Madness: The MVC Tournament
The Valley’s postseason is Arch Madness, played at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, where the men’s tournament has been held since 1991. For 2027 the event runs March 4-7 under a new format: the top 10 seeds qualify, and the top two seeds receive a double bye straight into Saturday’s semifinals. The winner takes the Missouri Valley’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid. See the full bracket, schedule and how to watch on our 2027 Arch Madness guide.
Printable MVC Standings Tracker
Track the Valley race all winter with a free one-page standings sheet: all 11 teams with blank columns for conference and overall records.
Download the printable 2026-27 MVC standings tracker (PDF)
How the Missouri Valley Earns NCAA Tournament Bids
Every Division I league gets one automatic bid, awarded to its conference tournament champion, so the Arch Madness winner is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Valley has also been a frequent at-large and bid-steal story: programs like Drake, Bradley and Indiana State have pushed for second bids in strong seasons. With the NCAA Tournament field expanding to 76 teams, the math for a second Valley bid improves, which raises the stakes on every Quad 1 win in November and December.
Related
- 2027 Arch Madness (MVC Tournament): bracket, schedule and how to watch
- 2026-27 Men’s College Basketball Schedule Hub (all conferences)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in the Missouri Valley Conference?
Eleven: Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, UIC and Valparaiso.
When is Arch Madness 2027?
March 4-7, 2027 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The champion earns the MVC’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
When does the 2026-27 MVC season start?
Regular-season games begin in early November 2026, with conference play opening around the turn of the year.
Does the Missouri Valley get more than one NCAA Tournament team?
Sometimes. The tournament champion is guaranteed a bid, and in strong seasons the Valley can earn at-large bids, especially with the NCAA field expanding to 76 teams.
