Big Ten Tournament TV Schedule Announced

Week 19 matchups and broadcast details for the Big Ten basketball tournament in Chicago

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The full TV schedule for the 2026 Big Ten basketball tournament has been released, with all games taking place in Chicago from March 10-15. The tournament features several potential matchups involving Northwestern, including their first-round game against Penn State on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 PM CT on NBCSN.

Why it matters

The Big Ten tournament is a high-stakes event that determines the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. With several ranked teams and potential March Madness contenders competing, the tournament games will have major implications for the postseason picture.

The details

The tournament kicks off on Tuesday, March 10 with a slate of first-round games. Northwestern will face off against Penn State at 6:30 PM CT on NBCSN. Other notable matchups include Oregon vs. Maryland at 4:00 PM CT and a potential Northwestern second-round game against Indiana on Wednesday at 5:30 PM CT on BTN. The semifinals will air on CBS on Saturday, March 14, with the championship game set for Sunday, March 15 at 2:30 PM CT.

  • The Big Ten tournament runs from March 10-15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Northwestern's first-round game against Penn State is on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 PM CT.
  • Potential Northwestern second-round game against Indiana is on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30 PM CT.
  • Big Ten tournament semifinals are on Saturday, March 14 at 1:00 PM CT and 3:30 PM CT.
  • Big Ten tournament championship game is on Sunday, March 15 at 2:30 PM CT.

The players

Northwestern

The Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team is one of the 14 members of the Big Ten Conference.

Penn State

The Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team is one of the 14 members of the Big Ten Conference.

Indiana

The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is one of the 14 members of the Big Ten Conference.

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What’s next

The winners of the Big Ten tournament semifinals on March 14 will advance to the championship game on March 15.

The takeaway

The 2026 Big Ten tournament promises high-stakes, nationally televised matchups as teams vie for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Northwestern has several potential tournament games that could impact their postseason hopes.