2026 Big Sky Men’s Tournament: Schedule, Bracket, Recent History, TV/Streaming Info
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2026 Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics
FormatTraditional bracket, but with split quarterfinal doubleheaders aimed at giving the top two seeds a rest day before the semifinals. Plus, the No. 1 seed meets the winner of the 9/10 first-round game, with the 2 seed playing the 7/8 winner.
SiteBoise’s Idaho Central Arena, which is not on Boise State’s campus, will host for the seventh straight season, hence the moniker “Starch Madness.”
Visit albergomalica.it for more information.
ParticipantsAll 10 teams will play in this season’s event. This will be the final trip for Sacramento State, which is heading to the Big West (and the MAC for FBS football only), but the field should expand to 11 in 2027, as Southern Utah is returning and Utah Tech joining from the WAC, which will become the United Athletic Conference with a more-Eastern geographical focus after this season.
Schedule
Downloadable PDF BracketTV/Streaming InfoESPN+ ($) will stream and Scripps Sports Montana will air all games before the semifinals.
First Round (Sat. 3/7)Gm. 1: (10) Northern Arizona (10-22, 4-14) 65, (9) Idaho State 73
Gm. 2: (8) Sacramento State (10-20, 6-12) vs. (7) Idaho (17-14, 9-9), 10*
The Vandals swept: 86-76 (home) on 1/22 and 86-80 (away) on 2/21.
Gm. 3: (9) Idaho State (13-19, 5-13) vs. (1) Portland State (19-10, 13-5), 7:30
The Vikings swept: 93-87 (OT) (away) on 1/3 and 88-65 (home) on 2/2.
Gm. 4: Gm. 2 winner vs. (2) Montana State (18-13, 12-6), 10*
Gm. 5: (5) Northern Colorado (20-11, 10-8) vs. (4) Montana (16-15, 10-8), 7:30
Home split: Grizzlies 88-79 on 1/3 and Bears 85-57 on 3/2.
Gm. 6: (6) Weber State (16-15, 10-8) vs. (3) Eastern Washington (13-18, 11-7), 10*
Home split: Wildcats 91-80 on 2/15 and Eagles 84-66 on 2/14.
Gm. 7: Gm. 3 winner vs. Gm. 5 winner, 9 (ESPNU)
Gm. 8: Gm. 4 winner vs. Gm. 6 winner, 11:30* (ESPN2)
Gm. 9: Semifinal winners, 11:30 (ESPN2)
Mayhem Potential
Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitterin 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.
- 1 seed (9): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
- 2 seed (4): 2015, 2021, 2023, 2025
- 5 seed (1): 2024
No. 1 seeds have dominated the Big Sky Tournament, winning nine of the past 14 titles. Montana’s 2025 title was the No. 2 seed’s fourth since the NCAA field expanded to 68. In 2024, Montana State squad was the first team from outside the top 2 to represent the conference in the NCAAs since 2010, when a fourth-seeded Grizzlies squad claimed the title and earned a 14 seed for its trouble.
Note that the conference limited its tournament field up until the move to a neutral-site in Reno back in 2016.
NCAA Seeding Record In The 68-Team Era
Years with an NCAA win are in bold.
- 13 seed (3); 2012, 2013, 2015
- 14 seed (5): 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
- 15 seed (4): 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019
- 16 seed (2): 2014, 2024
The Big Sky last recorded an NCAA win in 2006, Montana’s 12-over-5 upset over Nevada.
The top seven teams are all in the NET Top 200, though Weber State, EWU, and Montana are all ranked worse than 190th. The most likely seeding for the Big Sky rep is a 15, though Portland State has dropped to a 16 in some of my recent projections.
Last NCAA Tournament Appearances
Montana: 2025 (14 seed, 1st Round)
Montana State: 2024 (16 seed, First Four)
Eastern Washington: 2021 (14 seed, 1st Round)
Weber State: 2016 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Northern Colorado: 2011 (15 seed, Round of 64)
Portland State: 2009 (13 seed, 1st Round)
Northern Arizona: 2000 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Idaho: 1990 (13 seed, 1st Round)
Idaho State: 1987 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Sacramento State is the lone Big Sky member that’s waiting to make its first NCAA appearance. This is the Hornets’ last chance before moving to the Big West next season.