If there is a conference tournament that truly feels like a mini–NCAA Tournament every year, it is the Big 12.
That should be especially true in 2026. The league sends one of the deepest and most talented fields in the country to Kansas City this week, where 16 teams will compete for the conference championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona enters as the No. 1 seed after an outstanding regular season, finishing 29-2 overall and 16-2 in conference play in its second season in the league. Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech and Iowa State are also expected to be high NCAA Tournament seeds, giving the bracket multiple national contenders.
With programs coached by names like Tommy Lloyd, Kelvin Sampson and Bill Self, the level of coaching and experience in the field only adds to the intrigue.
The tournament runs March 10 - 14 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
2026 Big 12 tournament bracket and seeds
1 Arizona: 29-2 (16-2 Big 12)
2 Houston: 26-5 (14-4 Big 12)
3 Kansas: 22-9 (12-6 Big 12)
4 Texas Tech: 22-9 (12-6 Big 12)
5 Iowa State: 25-6 (12-6 Big 12)
6 TCU: 21-10 (11-7 Big 12)
7 West Virginia: 18-13 (9-9 Big 12)
8 UCF: 20-10 (9-9 Big 12)
9 Cincinnati: 17-14 (9-9 Big 12)
10 BYU: 21-10 (9-9 Big 12)
11 Colorado: 17-14 (7-11 Big 12)
12 Arizona State: 16-15 (7-11 Big 12)
13 Baylor: 16-15 (6-12 Big 12)
14 Oklahoma State: 18-13 (6-12 Big 12)
15 Kansas State: 12-19 (3-15 Big 12)
16 Utah: 10-21 (2-16 Big 12)
The top four teams receive a double bye into the quarterfinals, meaning Arizona, Houston, Kansas and Texas Tech will not play until Thursday.
Seeds five through eight begin play in the second round, while the bottom eight teams must win five games in five days to capture the title.
2026 Big 12 tournament schedule
All games are played at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
All times listed are CT.
First round — Tuesday, March 10
Arizona State vs Baylor — 11:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
Cincinnati vs Utah — 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
BYU vs Kansas State — 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Colorado vs Oklahoma State — 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Quarterfinals — Thursday, March 12
Texas Tech vs Game 5 winner — 11:30 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Arizona vs Game 6 winner — 2:00 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Houston vs Game 7 winner — 6:00 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Kansas vs Game 8 winner — 8:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Semifinals — Friday, March 13
Semifinal 1 — 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Semifinal 2 — 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Championship — Saturday, March 14
Big 12 Championship Game — 5:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Teams to watch
Here are few of the top teams in the tournament:
Arizona: 29-2 (16-2 Big 12)
Arizona has been the most consistent team in the conference all season under Tommy Lloyd. The Wildcats play with pace, shoot the ball well and have depth across the roster.
Freshman Brayden Burries has emerged as one of the league’s best scorers at around 16 points per game, while Jaden Bradley gives Arizona a steady presence at guard. The frontcourt pairing of Koa Peat and Motiejus Krivas adds size and interior scoring.
The Wildcats have the depth and balance to make them the clear favorite entering the tournament.
Houston: 26-5 (14-4 Big 12)
Kelvin Sampson’s teams always defend, and this year’s Houston squad is no different.
The Cougars rely heavily on their defensive pressure and physical style, which tends to translate well in tournament settings. Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan have carried much of the offensive production, while freshman Kingston Flemings has also become a key piece.
Houston’s defense alone makes the Cougars a serious threat to win the title.
Kansas: 22-9 (12-6 Big 12)
Kansas may not have dominated the league the way it has in some recent seasons, but Bill Self’s team still has the talent to win the tournament.
A big reason for that is freshman guard Darryn Peterson. One of the most dynamic players in the conference, Peterson has been capable of taking over games offensively while also creating opportunities for teammates.
The Jayhawks also get strong contributions from players like Flory Bidunga, Tre White and Melvin Council Jr., giving Kansas one of the more balanced lineups in the field.
Texas Tech: 22-9 (12-6 Big 12)
Texas Tech has quietly put together one of the better seasons in the conference under Grant McCasland.
The Red Raiders will be without star forward JT Toppin in the tournament, which changes the outlook somewhat after he averaged more than 21 points and 10 rebounds per game during the regular season.
Without Toppin, Texas Tech will likely rely more heavily on guards Christian Anderson and Donovan Atwell to generate offense. The Red Raiders remain a dangerous team, but his absence could make their path more difficult.
Iowa State: 25-6 (12-6 Big 12)
T.J. Otzelberger has built another strong Iowa State team that finished tied for third in the standings.
The Cyclones are led by point guard Tamin Lipsey, who controls the offense and sets the tone defensively. Milan Momcilovic provides consistent scoring from the wing, while Joshua Jefferson adds versatility across the lineup.
If Iowa State can survive the early rounds, it has the experience and defensive identity to make a deep run.
Players who could shape the tournament
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU — 24.7 points per game
- P.J. Haggerty, Kansas State — 23.3 points per game
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech — 19.2 points per game
- Cameron Carr, Baylor — 19.0 points per game
- Robert Wright III, BYU — 18.6 points per game
Dybantsa has been the most explosive scorer in the conference this season and could make BYU dangerous in the early rounds.
Last 10 Big 12 tournament champions
2025 — Houston
2024 — Iowa State
2023 — Texas
2022 — Kansas
2021 — Texas
2020 — Tournament canceled
2019 — Iowa State
2018 — Kansas
2017 — Iowa State
2016 — Kansas
What to expect in Kansas City
Arizona will arrive in Kansas City as the favorite, but history suggests the Big 12 tournament rarely goes exactly as expected.
Houston’s defense, Kansas’ tournament experience under Bill Self and Iowa State’s physical style all make them serious contenders. Even teams in the middle of the bracket such as BYU, Cincinnati or UCF have enough talent to pull off an upset or two.
That depth is exactly what has made the Big 12 arguably the toughest conference in the country this season.
And it is also what should make this week in Kansas City one of the most entertaining tournaments of Championship Week.