The 2026 TIAA Big Ten Conference Tournament for men’s basketball has been anything except boring. Truly encapsulating the phrase “expect the unexpected” several lower seeded teams have already defeated the top seeded teams as the conference title game is set to be played on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 2:30 PM CT / 3:30 PM ET.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 TIAA Big Ten Conference Tournament. For other conference dates, click here.
Overview of Key Details for the 2026 TIAA Big Ten Conference Tournament & Championship Game
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: Eric Dailey Jr. #3 of the UCLA Bruins goes up for a layup against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half during the semifinals of the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Big Ten will hold the 2026 TIAA Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament to determine who takes home the conference title on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Here are a few details about the Big Ten tournament and location:
- Dates of Tournament: March 10, 2026 – March 15, 2026
- Championship Game: March 15, 2026 at 2:30 PM CT / 3:30 PM ET
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Venue: United Center
- 2025 Big Ten Champion: University of Michigan
Official Seeding Order of All Big Ten Men’s Basketball Teams
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 13: Rienk Mast #51 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers rebounds the ball against Braden Smith #3 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The seeding order for teams upon the official start to the 2026 Big Ten tournament saw Michigan in the number one spot, closely followed by Nebraska in second and then Michigan State in the third seed. Here are the full seeds for all teams competing in the conference tournament:
Seed No. 1 – Michigan
Seed No. 2 – Nebraska
Seed No. 3 – Michigan State
Seed No. 4 – Illinois
Seed No. 5 – Wisconsin
Seed No. 6 – Purdue
Seed No. 7 – UCLA
Seed No. 8 – Ohio State
Seed No. 9 – Iowa
Seed No. 10 – Indiana
Seed No. 11 – Minnesota
Seed No. 12 – USC
Seed No. 13 – Washington
Seed No. 14 – Rutgers
Seed No. 15 – Northwestern
Seed No. 16 – Oregon
Seed No. 17 – Maryland
Seed No. 18 – Penn State
Full Schedule & Bracket: Live Updates With Scores & Results
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots over Braeden Carrington #0 and Aleksas Bieliauskas #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the semifinals of the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
First Round – Tuesday, March 10, 2026
- Game 1 – No. 16 Oregon vs No. 17 Maryland – Winner: Maryland, Result: 70 – 60
- Game 2 – No. 15 Northwestern vs No. 18 Penn State – Winner: Northwestern, Result: 76 – 66
Second Round – Wednesday, March 11, 2026
- Game 3 – No. 17 Maryland vs No. 9 Iowa – Winner: Iowa, Result: 75 – 64
- Game 4 – No. 12 USC vs No. 13 Washington – Winner: Washington, Result: 83 – 79 (OT)
- Game 5 – No. 15 Northwestern vs No. 10 Indiana – Winner: Northwestern, Result: 74 – 61
- Game 6 – No. 11 Minnesota vs No. 14 Rutgers – Winner: Rutgers, Result: 72 – 67
Third Round – Thursday, March 12, 2026
- Game 7 – No. 9 Iowa vs No. 8 Ohio State – Winner: Ohio State, Result: 72 – 69
- Game 8 – No. 13 Washington vs No. 5 Wisconsin – Winner: Wisconsin, Result: 85 – 82
- Game 9 – No. 14 Rutgers vs No. 7 UCLA – Winner: UCLA, Result: 72 – 59
- Game 10 – No. 15 Northwestern vs No. 6 Purdue – Winner: Purdue, Result: 81 – 68
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 13, 2026
- Game 11 – No. 8 Ohio State vs No. 1 Michigan – Winner: Michigan, Result: 71 – 67
- Game 12 – No. 5 Wisconsin vs No. 4 Illinois – Winner: Wisconsin, Result: 91 – 88 (OT)
- Game 13 – No. 6 Purdue vs No. 2 Nebraska – Winner: Purdue, Result: 74 – 58
- Game 14 – No. 7 UCLA vs No. 3 Michigan State – Winner: UCLA, Result: 88 – 84
Semifinals – Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Game 15 – No. 1 Michigan vs No. 5 Wisconsin – Winner: Michigan, Result: 68 – 65
- Game 16 – No. 6 Purdue vs No. 7 UCLA – Winner: Purdue, Result: 73 – 66
Big Ten Championship Final Game – Sunday, March 15, 2026
- Game 17 – No. 1 Michigan vs No. 6 Purdue – Winner/Result: TBD
2026 Big Ten Tournament: Live Updates, Scores, Bracket