Saturday was one of the busiest days on the college basketball calendar as conference champions were crowned in the American East, MAAC, Mountain West, SWAC, MAC, CUSA, Big West and WAC, among others. The winners of those games joined the 15 teams that already clinched an automatic bid heading into the weekend.
By the early afternoon, two teams punched their tickets to the Big Dance. Howard defeated North Carolina Central 70-63. This will mark Howard’s third NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023. In the American East, UMBC defeated Vermont 74-59 to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because UMBC was the first team in NCAA Tournament history to defeat a No. 1 seed as a No. 16 seed.
The MAC title game featured a dramatic finish. Akron star Shammah Scott knocked down a 3-pointer with six seconds remaining that proved to be the game-winner in Akron’s 79-76 win over Toledo. Akron will claim the automatic bid in the MAC, which means the conference could be a two-bid league for the first time since 1999, if Miami (Ohio) is selected as an at-large team.
Arizona defeated Houston 79-74 in the Big 12 title game, while St. John’s made a statement with a 72-52 victory over UConn in the Big East title game. The Red Storm under coach Rick Pitino has now won back-to-back conference titles.
The debate for who will be the No. 1 overall seed will be a major talking point until the bracket is released on Sunday. Duke made one final case why it should be the No. 1 overall seed with a 74-70 win over Virginia in the ACC title game.
On Sunday, the final five automatic bids will be handed out in the Ivy League, Atlantic 10, American, Big 10 and SEC.
Get up-to-date results, plus what they mean for the NCAA Tournament bubble and seeding with our CBS Sports Bracketology LIVE BLOG.
Saturday’s conference tournament schedule, scores
| AAC |
Birmingham, Ala. |
Semifinals |
Scoreboard |
| ACC |
Charlotte, N.C. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| America East |
Higher seed hosts |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Atlantic 10 |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Semifinals |
Scoreboard |
| Big 12 |
Kansas City, Mo. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Big East |
New York City |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Big Ten |
Chicago |
Semifinals |
Scoreboard |
| Big West |
Henderson, Nev. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Conference USA |
Huntsville, Ala. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Ivy League |
Ithaca, N.Y. |
Semifinals |
Scoreboard |
| MAC |
Cleveland |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| MEAC |
Norfolk, Va. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Mountain West |
Las Vegas |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| SEC |
Nashville, Tenn. |
Semifinals |
Scoreboard |
| SWAC |
Atlanta |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| WAC |
Las Vegas |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
Sunday’s conference tournament schedule
| AAC |
Birmingham, Ala. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Atlantic 10 |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Big Ten |
Chicago |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| Ivy League |
Ithaca, N.Y. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
| SEC |
Nashville, Tenn. |
Finals |
Scoreboard |
2025-26 conference tournament champions
| CONFERENCE |
DATES |
LOCATION |
CHAMPIONSHIP (TV) / CHAMPION |
| America East |
March 7, 10, 14 |
Higher seed hosts |
UMBC Retrievers (24-8) |
| American |
March 11-15 |
Birmingham, Ala. |
Sunday, 3:15 p.m. ESPN |
| Atlantic 10 |
March 11-15 |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Sunday, 1 p.m. CBS |
| ACC |
March 10-14 |
Charlotte, N.C. |
Duke Blue Devils (32-2) |
| ASUN |
March 4,6-8 |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
Queens Royals (21-13) |
| Big 12 |
March 10-14 |
Kansas City, Mo. |
Arizona Wildcats (32-2) |
| Big East |
March 11-14 |
New York City |
St. John’s Red Storm (28-6) |
| Big Sky |
March 7-11 |
Boise, Idaho |
Idaho Vandals (21-14) |
| Big South |
March 4, 6-8 |
Johnson City, Tenn. |
High Point Panthers (30-4) |
| Big Ten |
March 10-15 |
Chicago |
Sunday, 3:30 p.m. CBS |
| Big West |
March 11-14 |
Henderson, Nev. |
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (24-8) |
| CAA |
March 6-10 |
Washington, D.C. |
Hofstra Pride (24-10) |
| Conference USA |
March 10-14 |
Huntsville, Ala. |
Kennesaw State Owls (21-13) |
| Horizon League |
March 2,4,8-10 |
Indianapolis |
Wright State Raiders (23-11) |
| Ivy League |
March 14-15 |
Ithaca, N.Y. |
Sunday, 12 p.m. ESPN2 |
| MAAC |
March 5-10 |
Atlantic City, N.J. |
Siena Saints (23-11) |
| MAC |
March 12-14 |
Cleveland |
Akron Zips (29-5) |
| MEAC |
March 11-14 |
Norfolk, Va. |
Howard Bison (23-10) |
| Missouri Valley |
March 5-8 |
St. Louis |
Northern Iowa Panthers (23-12) |
| Mountain West |
March 11-14 |
Las Vegas |
Utah State Aggies (28-6) |
| Northeast |
March 4,7,10 |
Higher seed hosts |
Long Island Sharks (24-10) |
| Ohio Valley |
March 4-7 |
Evansville, Ind. |
Tennessee State Tigers (23-9) |
| Patriot League |
March 3,5,8,11 |
Higher seed hosts |
Lehigh Mountain Hawks (18-16) |
| SEC |
March 11-15 |
Nashville, Tenn. |
Sunday, 1 p.m. ESPN |
| SoCon |
March 6-9 |
Asheville, N.C. |
Furman Paladins (22-12) |
| Southland |
March 8-11 |
Lake Charles, La. |
McNeese Cowboys (28-5) |
| SWAC |
March 9-14 |
Atlanta |
Prairie View A&M Panthers (18-17) |
| Summit League |
March 4-8 |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
North Dakota State Bison (27-7) |
| Sun Belt |
March 3-9 |
Pensacola, Fla. |
Troy Trojans (22-11) |
| West Coast |
March 5-10 |
Las Vegas |
Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-3) |
| WAC |
March 11-14 |
Las Vegas |
Saturday, 12 a.m. ESPN2 |
