Arch Madness, the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament, returns to Enterprise Center in St. Louis on March 4-7, 2027. The 2027 event uses a new format: the top 10 seeds qualify, the top two seeds get a double bye into the semifinals, and the champion earns the Valley’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Here is the bracket structure, the day-by-day schedule, how to watch and a free printable bracket.
2027 Arch Madness: Quick Facts
| Event | 2027 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament (Arch Madness) |
| Dates | March 4-7, 2027 |
| Venue | Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri |
| Field | Top 10 of 11 teams (double bye for top two seeds) |
| At stake | Automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament |
2027 Arch Madness Format
For 2027 the Valley reworked its bracket to a 10-team field with a double bye for the top two seeds. The regular-season champion and runner-up skip the first two days and open in Saturday’s semifinals, while seeds 3 through 10 begin on Thursday and must win three games just to reach the final. It is a format that rewards a strong regular season and sets up a frantic weekend for everyone else.
2027 Arch Madness Schedule
| Round | Day |
| First round (seeds 3-10) | Thursday, March 4 |
| Quarterfinals | Friday, March 5 |
| Semifinals (seeds 1-2 enter) | Saturday, March 6 |
| Championship | Sunday, March 7 |
Printable 2027 Arch Madness Bracket
Print the full bracket with every round, the double-bye slots and the dates, ready to fill in once seeding is set.
Download the printable 2027 Arch Madness bracket (PDF)
How to Watch Arch Madness
Missouri Valley tournament games have traditionally streamed on ESPN+ in the early rounds, with the championship carried on national television. Exact 2027 broadcast windows and networks are announced closer to the event; we will update this page with the TV and streaming details once the conference confirms them.
NCAA Tournament Implications
The Arch Madness champion is locked into the NCAA Tournament through the automatic bid. The rest of the Valley then waits on Selection Sunday to see whether a strong regular season is enough for an at-large bid, a conversation that gets easier with the NCAA field expanding to 76 teams. That is why non-conference results in November and December matter so much for the league’s at-large case.
Related
- 2026-27 Missouri Valley Conference: teams, schedule and standings tracker
- 2026-27 Men’s College Basketball Schedule Hub (all conferences)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Arch Madness 2027?
March 4-7, 2027 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
How many teams make the MVC tournament?
The top 10 of the league’s 11 teams qualify for 2027, with the top two seeds receiving a double bye into the semifinals.
Where is Arch Madness played?
Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis, the home of the NHL’s Blues and the host of the MVC tournament since 1991.
What does the Arch Madness winner get?
The champion earns the Missouri Valley Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
