The Big 10 tournament has changed. Honestly, if you haven’t looked at a bracket in a couple of years, the 2026 version is going to look like a completely different beast. We aren't just talking about a couple of new teams from out West; the entire logistics of how you watch these games has shifted into a fragmented, multi-platform puzzle.
Finding the big 10 tournament tv schedule used to be simple. You turned on your local CBS affiliate or the Big Ten Network (BTN) and called it a day. Now? You need a checklist of apps and subscriptions just to make it through the first round.
With the addition of USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, the men's field has ballooned to 18 teams. That expansion has forced the tournament to start earlier and lean harder on streaming services. If you’re planning your March around this, you’ve got to be precise.
The Men's Bracket: Chicago and the 18-Team Chaos
For the 2026 season, the Men's Big 10 Tournament returns to the United Center in Chicago. It’s a six-day marathon running from Tuesday, March 10, through Sunday, March 15. Because there are now 18 teams, the "opening round" is no longer just a couple of cellar-dwellers playing for pride.
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Tuesday is the new "Wednesday." On March 10, the bottom four seeds (15 through 18) kick things off. These games are exclusive to Peacock. If you don’t have a login, you’re essentially locked out of the first 120 minutes of the postseason. It’s a bold move by the conference, but it’s the reality of the current media deal.
Breakdown of the Men’s TV Times
The schedule is tiered. It starts on a streamer, moves to cable, and finishes on a traditional broadcast network.
- Tuesday, March 10 (First Round): Two games starting at 4:00 p.m. CST. Both are on Peacock.
- Wednesday, March 11 (Second Round): Four games. The early session (11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.) stays on Peacock. The evening session (5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.) finally moves to the Big Ten Network.
- Thursday, March 12 (Third Round): All four games are on BTN. This is the "moving day" where seeds 5 through 8 enter the fray.
- Friday, March 13 (Quarterfinals): The heavy hitters arrive. The top four seeds play here. All four games air on BTN.
- Saturday, March 14 (Semifinals): Everything shifts to CBS and Paramount+. Tip-off for the first game is usually around 12:00 p.m. CST.
- Sunday, March 15 (Championship): The final airs at 2:30 p.m. CST on CBS.
Why the Women’s Schedule is Actually the Better Watch
While the men are in Chicago, the women are taking over Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis from March 4-8. Some people overlook the women's side, but let's be real—the Big 10 women's game has been the ratings engine of this conference lately.
The big 10 tournament tv schedule for the women follows a similar, though slightly more condensed, logic.
Wednesday, March 4, sees the first three games air exclusively on Peacock. After that, BTN takes the wheel for the second round, quarterfinals, and semifinals. CBS keeps the championship game on Sunday, March 8, at 2:15 p.m. EST. It’s a tight, high-stakes window that usually delivers more drama than the men's side because the talent gap between the top four and the middle of the pack has shrunk significantly.
Navigating the Peacock vs. BTN Divide
The biggest gripe fans have is the "paywall" feel of the early rounds. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the tech.
You’ve got older fans who have spent thirty years just punching numbers into a remote now trying to figure out how to "cast" a game from their phone to a smart TV. It’s a mess. But if you want to see your team on Tuesday or Wednesday morning, Peacock is a non-negotiable requirement.
BTN still carries the bulk of the "middle" games. This is where the conference's identity lives. The commentary is biased in that "we love the Big 10" way, and the production value is consistently high. However, don't expect to find these games on the Fox Sports app if you don't have a valid cable login.
The Final Four and the "Big" CBS Production
Once you hit Saturday, the vibe changes. CBS brings in the "A-Team" announcers. The graphics get slicker. The stakes feel higher because you’re 24 hours away from Selection Sunday.
Interestingly, CBS also streams these games on Paramount+. If you’ve cut the cord entirely and don't have a digital antenna, Paramount+ is your savior for the weekend. Just make sure you’re on the tier that includes your local live CBS station.
Actionable Tips for Tournament Week
Don't wait until tip-off to realize your Peacock password expired.
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- Audit your apps on Monday. Make sure Peacock and Paramount+ are updated on your TV.
- Sync your calendar to Central Time. Since the men’s tournament is in Chicago, all official times are CST. If you’re an Oregon or Washington fan out West, those 11:00 a.m. starts are actually 9:00 a.m. for you.
- Check the "Double Bye" status. The top four teams in the standings do not play until Friday. If you’re a fan of a powerhouse like Purdue or Michigan State (depending on the year), don't even bother looking for a channel until the Quarterfinals.
- Use the 25-minute rule. In these tournaments, games rarely start "on time" after the first matchup of the day. The schedule usually dictates that the next game starts 25 minutes after the previous one ends. If the 1:30 p.m. game goes into double overtime, your 4:00 p.m. plans are trashed.
The 2026 Big 10 tournament is a massive logistical undertaking. With 18 teams in the mix, the path to a trophy is longer and more exhausting than ever. Watching it all requires a mix of streaming savvy and cable loyalty, but for those five days in March, it’s the only thing that matters in the Midwest.