The 2025-26 men’s college basketball regular season has officially concluded. This means that one of the most exciting periods on the calendar has arrived: Champ Week. Conference tournaments are currently underway across the country as teams compete for an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament and the opportunity to extend the season into March Madness.
More: Predicting the winner of this week’s college basketball conference tournaments
February 16, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Kayden Boozer (2) reacts during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Image
How to watch Champions Week 2026
- date: Monday, March 9, 2026 – Sunday, March 15, 2026
- hour: 2 PM ET
- TV channels: ESPN
- Live Stream: ESPN(Watch now)
For many programs, Champ Week represents their last opportunity to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Winning the conference tournament automatically advances you to the 68-team bracket, making every game a win-or-lose scenario. At the same time, the bubble team will be hoping to improve its resume with a strong performance before Selection Sunday.
The action is scheduled to continue throughout the week before concluding with the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament championship game on Sunday. The final game is scheduled to take place just hours before the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday, when the full field for the 2026 edition of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament will be revealed.
How to watch Champions Week 2026
Fans can watch the biggest conference tournament games seven days a week through the ESPN family of networks. An ESPN subscription is required to watch all games. This gives you access to a variety of sports, including Championship Week and NHL games, MLB.TV, NBA, and more.
Champ Week matches will be broadcast as follows:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNU
- Samsung Electronics Network
- ACC Network
Key 2026 Conference Championship Dates (Men):
- ACC: March 10-14 (Final: March 14 at 8:30 PM ET)
- Big 12: March 10-14 (Final: March 14 at 6 PM ET)
- Big Ten: March 11-15 (Final: March 15 at 3:30 p.m. ET)
- Atlantic 10: March 11-15 (Final: March 15 at 1 PM ET)
- American (AAC): March 11-15 (Last: March 15 at 3:15 PM ET)
- Mountain West: March 11-14
- US Conference: March 11-15
Champions Week is one of the most dramatic weeks in sports because of the combination of championship stakes and NCAA Tournament implications. Smaller conferences are often a Cinderella story, with an underdog team catching fire and stealing an automatic bid with a surprise tournament run.
Meanwhile, power conferences like the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten use the tournament as a final proving ground for teams looking to improve their NCAA Tournament seeding.
By the time Sunday rolls around and the conference tournaments conclude, the picture of March Madness will finally come into focus. The selection committee will release the full bracket that evening, setting the stage for the most anticipated postseason in college basketball.
Regional restrictions may apply. We may receive compensation if you purchase a product or register an account through one of the links on our site.
— Enjoy The Big Lead’s top news and popular stories for free. —
NFL: Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott splits with fiancee before marriage
Major League: Tarik Skubal breaks silence on impending free agency
Sports Media: Stephen A. Smith accuses dominant NBA star of being a ‘food addict.’
leukocyte: Livvy Dunne, Paul Skenes debut ‘travel day’ perfect for World Baseball Classic
WNBA: Players, union leaders split, letter of claim from two-time MVP and four-time All-Star
Virus: Wendy’s goes viral on NFL quarterback with ‘Chief Tasting Officer’ job offer.
