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The 2026 SWAC Men’s Tournament heading into the First Round, in logo form. | Chris Dobbertean using logos from SportsLogos.net
2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics
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Format
Previously, the SWAC used a traditional bracket with split quarterfinal doubleheaders to protect the top two seeds. The split doubleheaders are still there, but the bottom four teams will need to win twice to get there, and the seventh- and eighth-seeded clubs will need to defeat those victors.
Site
The Gateway Center Arena in the Atlanta suburb of College Park will host for the second straight season. That’s the 3,500-seat home of both the WNBA Atlanta Dream and G-League College Park Skyhawks.
Participants
Last year, the SWAC Tournament expanded from 8 to 10 teams. In 2026, the conference finished the job and sent everyone to Atlanta.
Schedule
Downloadable PDF Bracket
TV/Streaming Info
ESPN+ ($) will stream all games before the championship.
First Round (Mon. 3/9)
Gm. 1: (11) Alcorn State (8-22, 7-11) vs. (10) Alabama State (10-21, 7-11), 2
The Hornets won 81-66 in Montgomery on 1/12.
Gm. 2: (12) Mississippi Valley State (3-29, 2-16) vs. (9) Grambling State (13-18, 7-11), 8:30
The Tigers won 83-62 in Grambling on 2/23.
Second Round (Tues. 3/10)
Gm. 3: Gm. 1 winner vs. (8) Prairie View A&M (14-17, 9-9), 2
Gm. 4: Gm. 2 winner vs. (7) Jackson State (11-20, 10-8), 8:30
Quarterfinals (Wed. 3/11)
Gm. 5: Gm. 3 winner vs. (1) Bethune-Cookman (17-14, 14-4), 2
Gm. 6: Gm. 4 winner vs. (2) Florida A&M (14-15, 11-7), 8:30
Quarterfinals (Thurs. 3/12)
Gm. 7: (5) Alabama A&M (17-14, 10-8) vs. (4) Texas Southern (12-17, 10-8), 2
The Tigers won 89-74 in Houston on 1/24.
Gm. 8: (6) Arkansas-Pine Bluff (13-18, 10-8) vs. (3) Southern (15-16, 11-7), 8:30
The Golden Lions won 75=74 in Baton Rouge on 1/24.
Semifinals (Fri. 3/13)
Gm. 9: Gm. 5 winner vs. Gm. 7 winner, 2
Gm. 10: Gm. 6 winner vs. Gm. 8 winner, 8:30
Championship (Sat. 3/14)
Gm. 11: Semifinal winners, 7:30 (ESPNU)
Mayhem Potential
Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitterin 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.
Given how even the SWAC typically is, it’s surprising that the No. 1 and 2 seeds have won the majority of titles since the NCAA field expanded to 68 in 2011.
- 1 seed (5): 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2024
- 2 seed (3): 2013, 2014, 2022
- 3 seed (2): 2018, 2021
- 4 seed (2): 2011, 2016
- 5 seed (1): 2025
- 8 seed (1): 2023
NCAA Seeding Record In The 68-Team Era
Years with an NCAA win are in bold.
- 15 seed (1): 2015
- 16 seed (12): 2011 (First Four), 2012 (First Four), 2013, 2014 (First Four), 2016 (First Four), 2017, 2018 (First Four), 2019 (First Four), 2021 (First Four), 2022 (First Four), 2023 (First Four), 2024 (First Four), 2025 (First Four)
Since 2011, the SWAC champion has only avoided Dayton three times, with only 2015’s Texas Southern earning a seed higher than 16th. Going back to the debut of the Opening Round in 2001, the SWAC champ has traveled to southwestern Ohio 16 times.
It’s quite likely that the SWAC champion once again has to play the extra game in 2026.
Last NCAA Tournament Appearances
Alabama State: 2025 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Grambling: 2024 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Texas Southern: 2023 (16 seed, First Four)
Prairie View A&M: 2019 (16 seed, First Four)
Southern: 2016 (16 seed, First Four)
Mississippi Valley State: 2012 (16 seed, First Four)
Arkansas Pine Bluff: 2010 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Florida A&M: 2007 (16 seed, Opening Round, MEAC member)
Jackson State: 2007 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Alabama A&M: 2005 (16 seed, Opening Round)
Alcorn State: 2002 (16 seed, Opening Round)
Top-seeded Bethune-Cookman is the only conference member without an NCAA appearance at the Division I level.
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