🏀 College Basketball Conference Tournament Guide 2026: Schedule, Odds & How To Watch
Before 68 teams hit the court for the NCAA Tournament, 31 conference tournaments have to be decided between now and Selection Sunday on March 15.
With over 300 teams playing in do-or-die games over the next two weeks, our college basketball conference tournament guide has you covered with the key details for every college basketball tournament ... from the Horizon League to the SEC.
🏀 College basketball conference tournament schedule & odds
Conference tournament college basketball odds via our best March Madness betting sites.
| Conference | Dates | Championship game (time, TV) | Tournament favorite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon League | March 2-10 | Tuesday, March 10 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) | Wright State (+185) |
| Sun Belt | March 3-9 | Monday, March 9 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN) | Troy (+165) |
| Patriot League | March 3-11 | Wednesday, March 11 (7 p.m. ET, CBSSN) | Navy (-210) |
| Ohio Valley | March 4-7 | Saturday, March 7 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | Tennessee State (+195) |
| Big South | March 4-8 | Sunday, March 8 (noon ET, ESPN2) | High Point (-250) |
| ASUN | March 4-8 | Sunday, March 8 (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | Austin Peay (+220) |
| Summit League | March 4-8 | Sunday, March 8 (9 p.m. ET, CBSSN) | North Dakota State (+135) |
| Northeast | March 4-10 | Tuesday, March 10 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | LIU (-170) |
| Missouri Valley | March 5-8 | Sunday, March 8 (noon ET, CBS Sports) | Belmont (+165) |
| MAAC | March 5-10 | Tuesday, March 10 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | Merrimack (+280) |
| West Coast | March 5-10 | Tuesday, March 10 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) | Gonzaga (-220) |
| SoCon | March 6-9 | Monday, March 9 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2) | East Tennessee State (+190) |
| CAA | March 6-10 | Tuesday, March 10 (7 p.m. ET, CBSSN) | TBD |
| Big Sky | March 7-11 | Wednesday, March 11 (11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | Northern Colorado (+370) |
| America East | March 7-14 | Saturday, March 14 (11 a.m. ET, ESPN2) | TBD |
| Southland | March 8-11 | Wednesday, March 11 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | McNeese (-110) |
| SWAC | March 9-14 | Saturday, March 14 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU) | TBD |
| ACC | March 10-14 | Saturday, March 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) | TBD |
| Big 12 | March 10-14 | Saturday, March 14 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN) | TBD |
| Conference USA | March 10-14 | Saturday, March 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN) | TBD |
| Big Ten | March 10-15 | Sunday, March 15 (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) | TBD |
| Big East | March 11-14 | Saturday, March 14 (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX) | TBD |
| Big West | March 11-14 | Saturday, March 14 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | TBD |
| MEAC | March 11-14 | Saturday, March 14 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | TBD |
| Mountain West | March 11-14 | Saturday, March 14 (6 p.m. ET, CBS) | TBD |
| WAC | March 11-14 | Saturday, March 14 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | TBD |
| SEC | March 11-15 | Sunday, March 15 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN) | TBD |
| Atlantic 10 | March 11-15 | Sunday, March 15 (1 p.m. ET, CBS) | TBD |
| American | March 11-15 | Sunday, March 15 (3:15 p.m. ET, ESPN) | TBD |
| MAC | March 12-14 | Saturday, March 14 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) | TBD |
| Ivy League | March 14-15 | Sunday, March 15 (noon ET, ESPN2) | Yale (+110) |
👑 High-major conference tournaments
Don't miss out on our college basketball picks as conference tournaments get underway.
ACC Tournament (March 10-14)
- Location: Spectrum Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
- How to watch: ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network
- Streaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Defending champ: Duke
- Tournament bracket: Here
Though the ACC isn't what it once was, Duke remains a college basketball power. The Blue Devils have won the ACC Tournament in two of Jon Scheyer's first three seasons and are expected to cruise to another title with Wooden Award odds favorite Cameron Boozer leading the way. If Caleb Wilson is healthy, then maybe North Carolina has a shot at stopping Duke.
Big 12 Tournament (March 10-14)
- Location: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
- How to watch: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Defending champ: Houston
- Tournament bracket: Here
Despite Arizona losing its undefeated season, the Wildcats are clearly one of the three best teams in the country. Tommy Lloyd has won two Pac-12 Tournaments with Arizona and will be expected to win his first Big 12 Tournament this season. However, the Big 12 is top-heavy with Houston, Iowa State, Texas Tech, and Kansas all looking like worthy challengers.
Big East Tournament (Match 11-14)
- Location: Madison Square Garden (New York City)
- How to watch: FOX, FS1, NBCSN, Peacock
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX)
- Defending champ: St. John's
- Tournament bracket: Here
A Big East Tournament win should guarantee UConn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies have already proven to be decisively better than their biggest competition after destroying St. John's on Feb. 25. It's a down year in the Big East, with Villanova being the only other team projected to make the NCAA Tournament.
Big Ten Tournament (March 10-15)
- Location: United Center (Chicago)
- How to watch: CBS, Big Ten Network, NBCSN, Peacock
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 15 (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Defending champ: Michigan
- Tournament bracket: Here
The Big Ten is the best hoops conference this season, with Michigan atop the March Madness odds. But a second straight Big Ten Tournament win will be a tall task for Dusty May's program, with the conference being home to four other teams expected to earn top-three seeds. Could Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, or Purdue get revenge on the Wolverines?
SEC Tournament (March 11-15)
- Location: Bridgestone Arena (Nashville)
- How to watch: ESPN, SEC Network
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 15 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Defending champ: Florida
- Tournament bracket: Here
It looked like Florida might be dealing with a March Madness hangover after winning the NCAA Tournament last season, but Todd Golden's team has been dominant down the stretch. Florida is clearly the best team in an SEC that's been underwhelming, even with 10 teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament. The Gators' toughest competition is Alabama and Vanderbilt.
👠 Mid-major conference tournaments
There are 26 mid-major conference tournaments, with the winner of each earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
America East Tournament (March 7-11)
- Location: Higher seeds host
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (11 a.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Bryant
- Tournament bracket: Here
American Tournament (March 11-15)
- Location: Legacy Arena (Birmingham, Ala.)
- How to watch: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 15 (3:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Defending champ: Memphis
- Tournament bracket: Here
A10 Tournament (March 11-15)
- Location: PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh)
- How to watch: CBS, CBSSN, CNBC, USA
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 15 (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Defending champ: VCU
- Tournament bracket: Here
ASUN Tournament (March 4-8)
- Location: Swisher Gymnasium (Round 1)/VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, Fla.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 8 (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Lipscomb
- Tournament bracket: Here
Big Sky Tournament (March 7-11)
- Location: Idaho Central Arena (Boise, Idaho)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Wednesday, March 11 (11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Montana
- Tournament bracket: Here
Big South Tournament (March 4-8)
- Location: Freedom Hall Civic Center (Johnson City, Tenn.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 8 (noon ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: High Point
- Tournament bracket: Here
Big West Tournament (March 11-14)
- Location: Lee’s Family Forum (Henderson, Nev.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: UC-San Diego
- Tournament bracket: Here
CAA Tournament (March 6-10)
- Location: CareFirst Arena (Washington, D.C.)
- How to watch: CBSSN, FloSports
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Tuesday, March 10 (7 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
- Defending champ: UNC Wilmington
- Tournament bracket: Here
Conference USA Tournament (March 10-14)
- Location: Propst Arena (Huntsville, Ala.)
- How to watch: ESPN+, CBSSN
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
- Defending champ: Liberty
- Tournament bracket: Here
Horizon League Tournament (March 2-10)
- Location: Higher seeds host (play-in, Round 1)/Corteva Coliseum (Indianapolis)
- How to watch: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Tuesday, March 10 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Defending champ: Robert Morris
- Tournament bracket: Here
Ivy League Tournament (March 14-15)
- Location: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 15 (noon ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Yale
- Tournament bracket: Here
MAAC Tournament (March 5-10)
- Location: Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, N.J.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Tuesday, March 10 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Mount St. Mary's
- Tournament bracket: Here
MAC Tournament (March 12-14)
- Location: Rocket Arena (Cleveland)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+, CBSSN
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Akron
- Tournament bracket: Here
MEAC Tournament (March 11-14)
- Location: Norfolk Scope Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Norfolk State
- Tournament bracket: Here
Missouri Valley Tournament (March 5-8)
- Location: Enterprise Center (St. Louis)
- How to watch: CBS, CBSSN, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 8 (noon ET, CBS)
- Defending champ: Drake
- Tournament bracket: Here
Mountain West Tournament (March 11-14)
- Location: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas)
- How to watch: CBS, CBSSN, Mountain West Network
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (6 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Defending champ: Colorado State
- Tournament bracket: Here
Northeast Tournament (March 4-10)
- Location: Higher seeds host
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+, NEC Front Row
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Tuesday, March 10 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: St. Francis (PA)
- Tournament bracket: Here
Ohio Valley Tournament (March 4-7)
- Location: Ford Center (Evansville, Ind.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 7 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: SIU Edwardsville
- Tournament bracket: Here
Patriot League Tournament (March 3-11)
- Location: Higher seeds host
- How to watch: CBSSN, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Wednesday, March 11 (7 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
- Defending champ: American
- Tournament bracket: Here
SoCon Tournament (March 6-9)
- Location: Harrah’s Cherokee Center (Asheville, N.C.)
- How to watch: ESPN/ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Monday, March 9 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Wofford
- Tournament bracket: Here
Southland Tournament (March 8-11)
- Location: Townsley Law Arena (Lake Charles, La.)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Wednesday, March 11 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: McNeese
- Tournament bracket: Here
SWAC Tournament (March 9-14)
- Location: Gateway Center Arena (Atlanta)
- How to watch: ESPNU, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
- Defending champ: Alabama State
- Tournament bracket: Here
Summit League Tournament (March 4-8)
- Location: Denny Sanford Premier Center (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
- How to watch: CBSSN, Summit League Network, Midco Sports
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Sunday, March 8 (9 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
- Defending champ: Omaha
- Tournament bracket: Here
Sun Belt Tournament (March 3-9)
- Location: Pensacola Bay Center (Pensacola, Fla.)
- How to watch: ESPN/ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Monday, March 9 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Troy
- Tournament bracket: Here
West Coast Tournament (March 5-10)
- Location: Orleans Arena (Las Vegas)
- How to watch: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Tuesday, March 10 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Defending champ: Gonzaga
- Tournament bracket: Here
WAC Tournament (March 11-14)
- Location: Orleans Arena (Las Vegas)
- How to watch: ESPN2, ESPN+
- Steaming: Fubo
- Championship game: Saturday, March 14 (11:59 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Defending champ: Grand Canyon
- Tournament bracket: Here
🎟️ Who's in March Madness? 2026 automatic bids
Conference tournament champions that earn automatic bids will be updated as conference tournaments conclude.
| Conference | 2026 champion (auto bid) | Projected NCAA Tournament seed |
|---|---|---|
| America East | TBD | TBD |
| American | TBD | TBD |
| Atlantic 10 | TBD | TBD |
| ACC | TBD | TBD |
| ASUN | TBD | TBD |
| Big 12 | TBD | TBD |
| Big East | TBD | TBD |
| Big South | TBD | TBD |
| Big Ten | TBD | TBD |
| Big West | TBD | TBD |
| CAA | TBD | TBD |
| Conference USA | TBD | TBD |
| Horizon League | TBD | TBD |
| Ivy League | TBD | TBD |
| MAAC | TBD | TBD |
| MAC | TBD | TBD |
| MEAC | TBD | TBD |
| Missouri Valley | TBD | TBD |
| Mountain West | TBD | TBD |
| Northeast | TBD | TBD |
| Patriot League | TBD | TBD |
| SEC | TBD | TBD |
| SoCon | TBD | TBD |
| Southland | TBD | TBD |
| SWAC | TBD | TBD |
| Summit League | TBD | TBD |
| Sun Belt | TBD | TBD |
| West Coast | TBD | TBD |
| WAC | TBD | TBD |
❓ College basketball conference tournament FAQs
When does the ACC Tournament start?
The ACC Tournament begins with the first round on March 10. The second round is March 11, the quarterfinals are March 12, the semifinals are March 13, and the championship game is March 14 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
When does the Big 12 Tournament start?
The Big 12 Tournament begins with the first round on March 10. The second round is March 11, the quarterfinals are March 12, the semifinals are March 13, and the championship game is March 14 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN).
When does the Big East Tournament start?
The Big East Tournament begins with the first round on March 11. The quarterfinals are March 12, the semifinals are March 13, and the championship game is March 14 (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
When does the Big Ten Tournament start?
The Big Ten Tournament begins with the first round on March 10. The second round is March 11, the third round is March 12, the quarterfinals are March 13, the semifinals are March 14, and the championship game is March 15 (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS).
When does the SEC Tournament start?
The SEC Tournament begins with the first round on March 11. The second round is March 12, the quarterfinals are March 13, the semifinals are March 14, and the championship game is March 15 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN).
How many automatic bids are there in March Madness?
There are 31 conference tournaments, with the winner of each receiving an automatic bid into March Madness. However, the NCAA Tournament field consists of 68 teams, with 37 at-large bids being selected by the committee alongside the 31 automatic bids.
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