Big Ten Tournament 2026 TV Schedule and Early Men's Bracketology Predictions

As a conference, the Big Ten has a chance to collectively dominate the upcoming men's NCAA Tournament.

Before that happens, though, the schools will descend upon Chicago for what should be an all-caps AWESOME iteration of the Big Ten Tournament.

With multiple elites in the college basketball world and a strong contingent of rock-solid teams behind them, the recipe could be in place for anything from jaw-dropping domination to a throw-the-seeds-out-the-window string of upsets. We are very much here for the show either way.

TV Schedule

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Tuesday, March 10

Game 1: No. 16 seed vs. No. 17 seed, 4 p.m. CT on Peacock

Game 2: No. 15 seed vs. No. 18 seed, 25 minutes after Game 1 on Peacock

Wednesday, March 11

Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. No. 9 seed, 11 a.m. CT on Peacock

Game 4: No. 12 seed vs. No. 13 seed, 25 minutes after Game 3 on Peacock

Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. No. 10 seed, 5:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network

Game 6: No. 11 seed vs. No. 14 seed, 25 minutes after Game 5 on Big Ten Network

Thursday, March 12

Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 8 seed, 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network

Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 5 seed, 25 minutes after Game 7 on Big Ten Network

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 7 seed, 5:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network

Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 6 seed, 25 minutes after Game 9 on Big Ten Network

Friday, March 13

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. No. 1 seed, 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network

Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. No. 4 seed, 25 minutes after Game 11 on Big Ten Network

Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. No. 2 seed, 5:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network

Game 14: Game 10 winner vs. No. 3 seed, 25 minutes after Game 13 on Big Ten Network

Saturday, March 14

Game 15: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, Noon CT on CBS

Game 16: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 25 minutes after Game 15 on CBS

Sunday, March 15

Game 17: Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS

Format Change

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Each Big Ten tournament feels a little different. Rosters change, obviously, and so does the venue (Chicago's United Center this year).

But this year's tournament feels different for new reasons. Like the new tournament format featuring all 18 Big Ten Teams (15 last year, 14 in 2024) and triple-byes for the top four seeds.

It spans six days from the opening tip to the coronation, although only the bottom four seeds are left without a bye. Still, getting through this mini-marathon will be a grind even for the best teams in the bunch.

One thing is still familiar, though, and objectively awesome: The championship will air Sunday afternoon on CBS just ahead of the NCAA Tournament reveal.

Bracketology

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Bubble-watchers won't be searching for content with this conference. With a pathway to double-digit tournament participants, a near-lock for a No. 1 seed (Michigan) and multiple schools sitting just below that seed line (Illinois, Purdue), there could be all kinds of bracket scrambling in this conference tournament.

The top seeds seem relatively cemented, though. Michigan has done just about everything it can to have a No. 1 seed cemented already. And a jump from No. 2 to No. 1 might be just out of reach for Illinois and Purdue, who have combined to go 5-5 in their last 10 contests.

The question is whether there's life at the back end of the bubble. Because while neither Ohio State or USC made the NCAA Tournament cut for ESPN's bracketologist Joe Lunardi, they were the first two teams left out of the festivities.

That gives them more than a puncher's chance of playing their way into the field, but both must snap out of late-season skids fast. Ohio State has dropped two in a row and four of its last six, while USC, which carried a 14-3 record into mid-January, is spiraling amid a four-game losing streak.