The 2026 SWAC Baseball Championship schedule takes place from May 20-24, 2026, at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL. The 8-team tournament uses a unique dual-bracket format: teams split into two parallel 4-team double-elimination brackets (Bracket A with seeds 2, 3, 6, 7 and Bracket B with seeds 1, 4, 5, 8). Each bracket plays out Wednesday through Friday, with potential if-necessary games Saturday. The two bracket champions meet in a single winner-take-all Championship Game Sunday afternoon. All games Wed through Sun will air on ESPN+, with the Championship Game on Sun, May 24 at 1:00 PM CT. You can download and print the bracket here in PDF format.
🏆 2026 SWAC Baseball Tournament Champion: Alabama State
Alabama State captured the 2026 SWAC Baseball Tournament title (May 20-24), at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL.
Live update (May 24, 2026): The SWAC Championship at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL is set for May 24 at 1:00 p.m. CT. No. 3 Florida A&M faces No. 4 Alabama State in the winner-take-all final on SWAC TV. Champion and the SWAC automatic NCAA Tournament bid pending.
SWAC Tournament Results So Far
| Game | Matchup | Result |
|---|---|---|
| No. 3 Florida A&M vs Texas Southern | Florida A&M 8, Texas Southern 6 | |
| No. 4 Alabama State vs Grambling State | Alabama State 10, Grambling State 0 | |
| No. 4 Alabama State vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Alabama State 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7 | |
| No. 3 Florida A&M vs Southern | Florida A&M 15, Southern 6 | |
| Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs Bethune-Cookman | Arkansas-Pine Bluff 13, Bethune-Cookman 8 – Bethune-Cookman eliminated | |
| No. 4 Alabama State vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Alabama State 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 5 – wins bracket | |
| No. 3 Florida A&M vs Southern | Florida A&M 5, Southern 1 – clinches title-game berth | |
| Final | No. 3 Florida A&M vs No. 4 Alabama State | Winner-take-all – Sun, May 24, 1:00 p.m. CT (SWAC TV) – TBD |
2026 SWAC Baseball Tournament Schedule
The 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament runs Wednesday, May 20 through Sunday, May 24 at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Eight teams are split into two four-team double-elimination brackets (A and B), with the bracket winners meeting in Sunday’s championship. Bethune-Cookman earned the No. 1 seed. All times Central.
2026 SWAC Tournament Seedings
- Bethune-Cookman
- Southern
- Florida A&M
- Alabama State
- Grambling State
- Texas Southern
- Jackson State
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
| Date | Game | Bracket | Matchup | Time (CT) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 20 | |||||
| Wed, May 20 | 1 | A | [3] Florida A&M vs [6] Texas Southern | Final | Florida A&M 8, Texas Southern 6 |
| Wed, May 20 | 2 | B | [4] Alabama State vs [5] Grambling State | Final | Alabama State 10, Grambling State 0 |
| Wed, May 20 | 3 | A | [2] Southern vs [7] Jackson State | Final | Southern 4, Jackson State 3 |
| Wed, May 20 | 4 | B | [1] Bethune-Cookman vs [8] Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Final | Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6, Bethune-Cookman 4 |
| Thursday, May 21 | |||||
| Thu, May 21 | 5 | A | Texas Southern vs Jackson State (elimination) | Final | Texas Southern 8, Jackson State 7 |
| Thu, May 21 | 6 | B | Grambling State vs Bethune-Cookman (elimination) | Final | Bethune-Cookman 7, Grambling State 6 |
| Thu, May 21 | 7 | A | Florida A&M vs Southern | Final | Florida A&M 15, Southern 6 |
| Friday, May 22 (Today) | |||||
| Fri, May 22 | 8 | B | Alabama State vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 10:00 AM | TBD |
| Fri, May 22 | 9 | A | Texas Southern vs Southern (elimination) | 9:00 AM | TBD |
| Fri, May 22 | 10 | B | Bethune-Cookman vs Loser G8 (elimination) | 12:00 PM | TBD |
| Fri, May 22 | 11 | A | Florida A&M vs Winner G9 (Bracket A final) | 3:00 PM | TBD |
| Fri, May 22 | 12 | B | Winner G8 vs Winner G10 (Bracket B final) | 6:00 PM | TBD |
| Saturday, May 23 – Championship | |||||
| Sat, May 23 | CH | – | SWAC Championship (Bracket A winner vs Bracket B winner) | TBD | TBD |
SWAC Baseball FAQ
Where is the 2026 SWACBaseball Tournament being played? The tournament is being held at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL, the oldest professional baseball park in the United States, built in 1910.
How can I watch the SWAC Baseball Tournament? The entire tournament is broadcast on ESPN+.
How many teams make the SWAC Baseball Tournament? The top 8 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 SWAC 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
