2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket, Scores, and Full Schedule: Michigan Enters as Defending Champion and Runaway No. 1 Seed in Chicago
The 2026 TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament is underway at the United Center in Chicago — and for the first time in the event's history, all 18 conference teams are in the bracket. Tuesday's first-round results are in. Wednesday's second-round slate tips off at noon ET. Michigan looms over everything as a historically dominant No. 1 seed.
First-Round Results: Maryland Stuns Oregon, Northwestern vs. Penn State in Progress
Game 1 is final: No. 17 Maryland defeated No. 16 Oregon 70-60. The Terrapins advance to face No. 9 Iowa on Wednesday at noon ET on Peacock.
Game 2 — No. 15 Northwestern vs. No. 18 Penn State — is currently in progress. The winner faces No. 10 Indiana on Wednesday at 6:30 PM ET on the Big Ten Network.
2026 Big Ten Tournament Full Bracket and Schedule
The official seedings after the regular season: No. 1 Michigan (19-1), No. 2 Nebraska (15-5), No. 3 Michigan State (15-5), No. 4 Illinois (15-5), No. 5 Wisconsin (14-6), No. 6 Purdue (13-7), No. 7 UCLA (13-7), No. 8 Ohio State (12-8), No. 9 Iowa (10-10), No. 10 Indiana (9-11), No. 11 Minnesota (8-12), No. 12 USC (7-13), No. 13 Washington (7-13), No. 14 Rutgers (6-14), No. 15 Northwestern (5-15), No. 16 Oregon (5-15), No. 17 Maryland (4-16), No. 18 Penn State (3-17).
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 — SECOND ROUND
Game 3: No. 9 Iowa vs. Maryland | Noon ET on Peacock Game 4: No. 12 Washington vs. No. 13 USC | ~2:30 PM ET on Peacock Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. No. 10 Indiana | 6:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network Game 6: No. 11 Minnesota vs. No. 14 Rutgers | ~9:00 PM ET on Big Ten Network
THURSDAY, MARCH 12 — THIRD ROUND
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 8 Ohio State | Noon ET on Big Ten Network Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 5 Wisconsin | ~2:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 7 Purdue | 6:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 6 UCLA | ~9:00 PM ET on Big Ten Network
FRIDAY, MARCH 13 — QUARTERFINALS
Game 11: No. 1 Michigan vs. Game 7 winner | Noon ET on Big Ten Network Game 12: No. 4 Illinois vs. Game 8 winner | 2:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network Game 13: No. 2 Nebraska vs. Game 9 winner | 6:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network Game 14: No. 3 Michigan State vs. Game 10 winner | 9:00 PM ET on Big Ten Network
SATURDAY, MARCH 14 — SEMIFINALS
Game 15: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 1:00 PM ET on CBS Game 16: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner | 3:30 PM ET on CBS
SUNDAY, MARCH 15 — CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Game 17: Semifinal winners | 3:30 PM ET on CBS
Michigan's Extraordinary Season — And Why No One Looks Close
Michigan enters at 29-2 overall, 19-1 in conference play. Dusty May's Wolverines became the first team since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers to win every single road game in Big Ten conference play — an absurdly impressive accomplishment in an 18-team league.
Michigan beat Michigan State 90-80 in the final week of regular season play, a result that pushed the Spartans to a 15-5 conference record alongside Nebraska and Illinois. Nebraska's tiebreaker edge — they defeated Iowa 84-75 in overtime in the regular-season finale — clinched the No. 2 seed for the Cornhuskers.
History, Odds, and the Championship Bracket Path
Michigan is the defending champion, having beaten Wisconsin 59-53 in last year's final as a No. 3 seed. Michigan State leads all programs with six Big Ten Tournament titles, last winning in 2019.
Nine of the last 15 Big Ten Tournaments were won by a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, with the No. 3 seed winning two of the last four. The top four seeds — Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Illinois — all receive triple byes into the quarterfinals on Friday, meaning each must win just three games to claim the title.
ESPN's Joe Lunardi has Michigan as one of four No. 1 seeds in his current NCAA Tournament bracket, alongside Duke, Arizona, and Florida. At least nine Big Ten teams are projected to receive at-large bids to the Big Dance. Whichever team wins Sunday's championship earns an automatic berth — relevant insurance for any bubble team that survives Chicago.
