The 2026 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket officially begins on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with first-round matchups hosted at campus sites. After a dominant 17-1 conference season, the Navy Midshipmen have clinched the No. 1 overall seed and home-court advantage throughout the tournament. The championship game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, at 7:00 PM ET, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Early-round games will stream on ESPN+, while the semifinals and finals will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.
2026 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Bracket & Matchups
The tournament follows a traditional high-seed-hosting format, with no neutral site for the final rounds.
First Round: Tuesday, March 3
- Game 1: No. 9 Army West Point at No. 8 Bucknell (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)
- Game 2: No. 10 Holy Cross at No. 7 Lafayette (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 5
- Game 3: Winner Game 1 at No. 1 Navy (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)
- Game 4: No. 5 American at No. 4 Boston University (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)
- Game 5: No. 6 Loyola Maryland at No. 3 Colgate (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)
- Game 6: Winner Game 2 at No. 2 Lehigh (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)
Key Dates to Watch:
- Semifinals: Sunday, March 8 (Hosted by higher remaining seeds, CBS Sports Network)
- Patriot League Championship: Wednesday, March 11 (7:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network)
Expert Note from the Sports Brackets Analyst: Navy enters as the heavy favorite, matching the best conference record in league history at 17-1. However, keep an eye on Colgate and Lehigh. Colgate has years of championship experience, and Lehigh leads the nation in overtime games this season—they are built for the high-pressure environment of single-elimination play.
2026 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule Format
Here’s the 2026 Patriot League Men’s basketball tournament schedule format for you.
- Teams: All 10 Patriot League members participate, but the bottom two seeds (9 and 10) play in first-round games; top 8 advance effectively into quarterfinals.
- Structure: Single-elimination; higher seeds host throughout; no reseeding mentioned-standard bracket progression.
- Sites: Campus sites of the higher-seeded teams for all rounds.
- Dates: First Round (Tuesday, March 3), Quarterfinals (Thursday, March 5), Semifinals (Sunday, March 8), Championship (Wednesday, March 11).
- TV/Streaming: Early rounds on ESPN+; Semifinals and Championship on CBSSN (CBS Sports Network).
- Qualifiers: Automatic NCAA bid for the champion.
2026 Patriot League Tournament Participating Teams
The 10 Patriot League teams for 2025-26: American, Army West Point, Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola Maryland, Navy.
All teams are eligible, with seeds determined by final conference records (tiebreakers via head-to-head, etc.). Final seeds locked after the regular season concludes (late February).
2026 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
Here’s the 2026 Patriot League Men’s basketball Tournament schedule. All times Eastern (ET); games at higher seed’s home arena.
| Round | Date | Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | Location (Higher Seed Home) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Tuesday, March 3 | Game 1 | No. 9 Army West Point at No. 8 Bucknell | 7:00 p.m. | Lewisburg, Pa. (Bucknell) | ESPN+ |
| First Round | Tuesday, March 3 | Game 2 | No. 10 Holy Cross at No. 7 Lafayette | 7:00 p.m. | Easton, Pa. (Lafayette) | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Thursday, March 5 | Game 3 | Winner Game 1 at No. 1 Navy | 7:00 p.m. | Annapolis, Md. (Navy) | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Thursday, March 5 | Game 4 | No. 5 American at No. 4 Boston University | 7:00 p.m. | Boston, Mass. (Boston U) | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Thursday, March 5 | Game 5 | No. 6 Loyola Maryland at No. 3 Colgate | 7:00 p.m. | Hamilton, N.Y. (Colgate) | ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinals | Thursday, March 5 | Game 6 | Winner Game 2 at No. 2 Lehigh | 7:00 p.m. | Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh) | ESPN+ |
| Semifinals | Sunday, March 8 | Game 7 | Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 | TBD (approx. afternoon/evening) | Higher remaining seed home | CBS Sports Network |
| Semifinals | Sunday, March 8 | Game 8 | Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 | TBD (approx. afternoon/evening) | Higher remaining seed home | CBS Sports Network |
| Championship | Wednesday, March 11 | Game 9 | Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Higher remaining seed home | CBS Sports Network |
Notes:
- All games are single-elimination with home-court advantage to the higher seed throughout (no neutral site for finals, unlike some conferences).
- Semifinal times are typically set as doubleheaders (e.g., ~1:00/4:00 p.m. or evening slots) but confirmed closer to the date based on TV scheduling.
Printable 2026 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket
Here’s the printable 2026 Patriot League Men’s basketball tournament bracket for you.
Projected Seeds & Storylines (As of February 18, 2026)
Seeds are projections based on current conference records (subject to change with final games):
- Navy Midshipmen (13-1 PL, dominant lead)
- Colgate Raiders (10-5 PL)
- Lehigh Mountain Hawks (8-6 PL) 4-10: American, Boston University, Bucknell, Lafayette, Loyola Maryland, Holy Cross, Army West Point (tight mid-pack battles)
Key notes: Navy is the heavy favorite with a winning streak and strong defense; Colgate remains a threat; lower seeds could produce upsets in the play-in round. Final seeds announced post-regular season.
Viewing & Coverage
- Streaming: ESPN+ for first round and quarterfinals (subscription required).
- TV: Semifinals and Championship on CBSSN for national broadcast.
- Live Updates: PatriotLeague.org, ESPN app, or follow here for real-time scores, bracket fills, and highlights.
- Tickets: Available via host school athletic sites-home-court advantage is huge in this format!
College Basketball Postseason Resources
- Championship Week 2026 – All Conference Tournaments Guide
- Printable 2026 March Madness Bracket
