2026 Big 12 Men’s Tournament: Schedule, Bracket, Recent History, TV/Streaming Info
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2026 Big 12 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics
FormatSince the Big 12 now has 16 teams, it’s adopted the old Big East bracket, with the top four teams receiving a double-bye to the quarterfinals (Thursday), teams 5 through 8 getting a single bye to Wednesday, and the bottom half of the league playing on Tuesday.
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SiteThe T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri will yet again host the Big 12 Tournament—a run that began in 2008, was interrupted by a single year in Oklahoma City, resumed in 2010, and is set to continue well into the future. This year, the conference will play on a glass LED court (one year after playing on this). And no, the LED court won’t be better, as the women’s tournament once again provided a helpful preview.
ParticipantsEvery single team will play at least one game in Kansas City.
Schedule
Downloadable PDF BracketFirst Round (Tues. 3/10)ESPN+ ($) will stream all four games.
Gm. 1: (13) Baylor (16-16, 6-12) 79, (12) Arizona State 83
Gm. 2: (16) Utah (10-21, 2-16) vs. (9) Cincinnati (17-14, 9-9), 3*
The Bearcats won 69-65 in Cincinnati on 2/15.
Gm. 3: (15) Kansas State (12-19, 3-15) vs. (10) BYU (21-10, 9-9), 7
The Cougars won 83-73 in Manhattan on 1/3.
Gm. 4: (14) Oklahoma State (18-13, 6-12) vs. (11) Colorado (17-14, 7-11), 9:30*
The Buffaloes won 83-69 in Boulder on 2/21.
Gm. 5: (12) Arizona State (17-15, 7-11) vs. (5) Iowa State (25-6, 12-6), 12:30 (ESPN2)
The Cyclones won 86-65 last Saturday in Ames.
Gm. 6: Gm. 2 winner vs. (8) UCF (20-10, 9-9), 3 (ESPNU)
Gm. 7: Gm. 3 winner vs. (7) West Virginia (18-13, 9-9), 7 (ESPNU)
Gm. 8: Gm. 4 winner vs. (6) TCU (21-10, 11-7), 9:30 (ESPN2/U)
Gm. 9: Gm. 5 winner vs. (4) Texas Tech (22-9, 12-6), 12:30 (ESPN/2)
Gm. 10: Gm. 6 winner vs. (1) Arizona (29-2, 16-2), 3* (ESPN/2)
Gm. 11: Gm. 7 winner vs. (2) Houston (26-5, 14-4), 7 (ESPN/2)
Gm. 12: Gm. 8 winner vs. (3) Kansas (22-9, 12-6), 9:30* (ESPN/2)
Gm. 13: Gm. 9 winner vs. Gm. 10 winner, 7 (ESPN/2)
Gm. 14: Gm. 11 winner vs. Gm. 12 winner, 9:30* (ESPN/2)
Gm. 15: Semifinal winners, 6 (ESPN)
Mayhem Potential
Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitterin 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.
In the last 12 Big 12 Tournaments, the No. 1 seed has won six titles, with Houston snapping the No. 2 seed’s two-year win streak in 2025. In 2021, now-departed Texas became the first 3 seed to win since long-departed Missouri won 2009’s edition.
- 1 seed (6): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025
- 2 seed (4): 2012, 2015, 2023, 2024
- 4 seed (2): 2014, 2017
- 3 seed (1): 2021
- 5 seed (1); 2019
NCAA Bid Totals In The 68-Team Era
- 8 bids (1): 2024 (7-8 record, 14 teams)
- 7 bids (7): 2014 (6-7 record, 10 teams), 2015 (5-7 record, 10 teams), 2016 (9-7 record, 10 teams),2018 (12-7 record, 10 teams), 2021 (11-6 record, Baylor national champion, 10 teams), 2023 (9-7 record, 10 teams), 2025 (14-7 record, 16 teams)
- 6 bids (4): 2012 (10-6 record, 10 teams), 2017 (9-6 record, 10 teams), 2019 (8-6 record, 10 teams), 2022 (13-5 record, Kansas national champion, 10 teams)
- 5 bids (2): 2011 (5-5 record, 12 teams),2013 (3-5 record, 10 teams)
The Big 12 has sent no fewer than five teams to the NCAA Tournament over the past 12 editions. At least seven teams will again be selected in 2026. They will look to exceed last year’s win total—of the conference’s entrant, only Kansas failed to win a single game.
Last Conference Tournament Titles
Houston: 2025 (1 seed)
Iowa State: 2024 (2 seed)
Arizona: 2023 (2 seed, Pac-12)
Kansas: 2022 (1 seed)
Cincinnati: 2019 (2 seed, American)
Colorado: 2012 (6 seed, Pac-12)
West Virginia: 2010 (3 seed, Big East)
Utah: 2009 (2 seed, MW)
Oklahoma State: 2005 (3 seed)
UCF: 2005 (2 seed, Atlantic Sun)
BYU: 2001 (2 seed, MW)
Texas Tech: 1996 (1 seed, SWC)
Kansas State: 1980 (2 seed, Big 8)
Along with five of Big 12’s newest members (all but Houston), holdovers West Virginia, Texas Tech, Kansas State, TCU, and Baylor are all in search of their first Big 12 crowns. Making matters worse for the Horned Frogs, Bears, and Arizona State is the fact that all three have never won a conference tournament title period.