March Madness: Your Guide to Men's Conference Tournaments

The ACC, Big Ten, and other conference tournaments are underway as teams vie for NCAA bids.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The men's college basketball conference tournaments are in full swing, with the ACC, Big Ten, and other leagues holding their annual postseason events. Teams are competing for automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, as well as jockeying for seeding and at-large consideration.

Why it matters

The conference tournaments are a crucial part of the March Madness buildup, as they determine which teams will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament and which teams on the bubble will make it in. The outcomes of these tournaments can significantly impact the NCAA Tournament field and bracket.

The details

In the ACC, the entire 18-team league does not get to go to Greensboro for the conference tournament. Teams like Notre Dame, Boston College, and Georgia Tech did not qualify. The ACC tournament championship game is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 14, and will be televised on ESPN.

  • The ACC tournament begins on Tuesday, March 10.
  • The ACC tournament championship game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 14.

The players

ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference, one of the premier men's college basketball leagues in the country.

Notre Dame

A member of the ACC that did not qualify for the conference tournament.

Boston College

A member of the ACC that did not qualify for the conference tournament.

Georgia Tech

A member of the ACC that did not qualify for the conference tournament.

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What’s next

The winners of the various conference tournaments will earn automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which begins on March 18.

The takeaway

The conference tournaments are a crucial part of the road to the NCAA Tournament, as teams fight for automatic bids and improved seeding in the Big Dance. The outcomes of these events will have a major impact on the overall NCAA Tournament field and bracket.