Big Ten Tournament 2026 Men's Bracketology, Schedule, Dates, Live Stream and Picks

The Michigan Wolverines head into the 2026 Big Ten tournament as the clear favorite in a conference loaded with quality teams.

Michigan comes into Chicago with only two losses on the season and a single defeat in Big Ten play.

The Wolverines only need three wins inside the United Center to produce the regular-season-tournament double.

The Michigan State Spartans, Nebraska Cornhuskers and Illinois Fighting Illini are the biggest challengers to Michigan based on record.

A deep run from a lower seed is possible, but those teams have at least four games to play to win the Big Ten tournament.

2026 Big Ten Tournament Schedule

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Tuesday, March 10

No. 16 Oregon vs. No. 17 Maryland (5 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN)

No. 15 Northwestern vs. No. 18 Penn State (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN)

Wednesday, March 11

No. 9 Iowa vs. Oregon/Maryland winner (Noon ET, Peacock/NBCSN)

No. 12 Washington vs. No. 13 USC (2:30 p.m. ET, Peacock/NBCSN)

No. 10 Indiana vs. Northwestern/Penn State winner (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 11 Minnesota vs. No. 14 Rutgers (9 p.m. ET. BTN)

Thursday, March 12

No. 8 Ohio State vs. Iowa vs. Oregon/Maryland winner (Noon ET, BTN)

No. 5 Wisconsin vs. Washington/USC winner (2:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 7 Purdue vs. Indiana vs. Northwestern/Penn State winner (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 6 UCLA vs. Minnesota/Rutgers winner (9 p.m. ET, BTN)

Friday, March 13

No. 1 Michigan vs. winner of Ohio State game (Noon ET, BTN)

No. 4 Illinois vs. Wisconsin vs. Washington/USC winner (2:30 p.m. ET. BTN)

No. 2 Nebraska vs. winner of Purdue game (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 3 Michigan State vs. UCLA vs. Minnesota/Rutgers winner (9 p.m. ET, BTN)

Saturday, March 14

Semifinal No. 1 (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

Semifinal No. 2 (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Sunday, March 15

Championship Game (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Picks

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The Big Ten tournament has a Michigan-versus-the field feel to it.

The Wolverines' only Big Ten defeat occurred back on January 10 against the Wisconsin Badgers. None of the top-four seeds were able to spring an upset against the No. 1 seed.

Michigan might see the Badgers in the quarterfinals if Wisconsin wins its first two games in Chicago.

Wisconsin is the team outside the top four to keep an eye on. The Badgers own wins over Michigan State, Illinois, Michigan and the Purdue Boilermakers.

Nebraska and Michigan State should be able to win one game each to set up a semifinal showdown.

Nebraska won the regular-season meeting by two points over the Spartans, but Michigan State put together the better February.

The Cornhuskers had the smaller margin of victory in their loss to Michigan compared to Michigan State's two defeats to the Wolverines.

But it might not matter which team opposes Michigan in the championship game given how well the Wolverines have played this season.

Pick: Michigan over Michigan State