Championship Sunday: Conference tournaments deciding March Madness bids today

Selection Sunday has arrived, and before the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed tonight, five men’s college basketball conferences will crown their champions. Each title game awards an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, completing the final spots in the 68-team field.

Here’s a breakdown of the conference championship games taking place Sunday, March 15, including tip times, locations, TV coverage and how each matchup came together.

NCAA Conference Tournaments today

Ivy League championship

Yale vs Cornell

• Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Newman Arena - Ithaca, New York
• TV: ESPN2 / ESPN+

The Ivy League tournament features only four teams and is played over two days at a single host site. Cornell, the tournament host, advanced to the championship after winning their semifinal matchup Saturday, while Yale continued their strong conference run to reach the final. With only one bid available for the conference, the winner of this game will represent the Ivy League in the NCAA Tournament.

Atlantic 10 championship

Dayton vs VCU

• Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• Location: PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• TV: CBS (streaming on Paramount+)

Dayton reached the final by upsetting top-seeded Saint Louis in a dramatic semifinal, edging the Billikens by a single point to continue its tournament run. VCU advanced after a convincing win over Saint Joseph’s in the other semifinal, powered by strong scoring from its backcourt. The Atlantic 10 tournament has been played in Pittsburgh throughout the week, and the championship game will determine whether the league sends one or multiple teams to March Madness.

SEC championship

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt

• Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, Tennessee
• TV: ESPN

Arkansas advanced through the bracket with a semifinal win to reach the title game, continuing their push toward a strong NCAA Tournament seed. Vanderbilt earned their spot in the final after winning its semifinal matchup on Saturday, setting up a championship clash between two teams that have played some of their best basketball late in the season. With the SEC traditionally sending multiple teams to the NCAA field, the title game also carries implications for tournament seeding.

American Athletic Conference championship

South Florida vs Wichita State

• Time: 3:15 p.m. ET
• Location: Legacy Arena at the BJCC - Birmingham, Alabama
• TV: ESPN

South Florida reached the title game after a strong semifinal performance in Birmingham, continuing a late-season surge that carried the Bulls through the bracket. Wichita State earned their place in the final with a semifinal win of their own, setting up a matchup between two teams that were not preseason favorites but navigated a competitive American tournament field. The winner secures the conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

Big Ten championship

Michigan vs Purdue

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: United Center - Chicago, Illinois
• TV: CBS (streaming on Paramount+)

The Big Ten tournament wraps up in Chicago after a week-long event featuring all 18 conference teams. Top-seeded Michigan advanced to the championship after defeating Wisconsin in the semifinals, continuing an impressive season that included a dominant conference record. Purdue, seeded seventh, pulled off an upset in the semifinals by beating UCLA to reach the title game. The winner will claim one of the most prestigious automatic bids in the NCAA field.

The final automatic bids

These five games will determine the last automatic qualifiers for the 2026 NCAA Tournament before the bracket reveal Sunday evening. Once the conference champions are crowned, the selection committee will finalize the field of 68 teams for March Madness.

The Selection Sunday show begins at 6 p.m. ET (CBS), revealing the full bracket and first-round matchups for the tournament. After Selection Sunday, the First Four will be played in Dayton, Ohio, on March 17–18, before the traditional first round begins later that week.

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