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Postseason hoops take center stage as the Big Sky conference heads to Boise for five days of knockout basketball. Fans call the league’s event “Starch Madness,” and this year’s tournament delivers a winner-take-all ticket to the NCAA tournament and plenty of potential upsets.
Where to watch the 2026 Big Sky men’s basketball tournament
Broadcast plans are straightforward for viewers across the country. Not every game will appear on linear TV, but every contest is available through streaming.
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- Semifinals: ESPNU
- Championship game: ESPN2
- Live stream for all games: ESPN+
Note: Early-round matchups are carried exclusively on ESPN+. The semifinals and title game move to national cable windows.
Teams, seeds and regular-season records for the 2026 Big Sky field
All 10 conference members qualify for the Big Sky tournament. Below is the seeding and each team’s overall and league record heading into Boise.
- No. 1: Portland State — 19-10 (13-5 Big Sky)
- No. 2: Montana State — 18-13 (12-6)
- No. 3: Eastern Washington — 13-18 (11-7)
- No. 4: Montana — 16-15 (10-8)
- No. 5: Northern Colorado — 20-11 (10-8)
- No. 6: Weber State — 16-15 (10-8)
- No. 7: Idaho — 17-14 (9-9)
- No. 8: Sacramento State — 10-20 (6-12)
- No. 9: Idaho State — 12-19 (5-13)
- No. 10: Northern Arizona — 10-21 (4-14)
Seed position shapes the bracket and matchups. Higher seeds earn byes and the chance to avoid early elimination.
Game-by-game schedule and viewing times — Boise, Idaho
The tournament runs from Saturday, March 7 through Wednesday, March 11 at Idaho Central Arena. Times below are Eastern.
Saturday, March 7 — First round
- 7:30 p.m. ET — No. 9 Idaho State vs. No. 10 Northern Arizona — ESPN+
- 10:00 p.m. ET — No. 7 Idaho vs. No. 8 Sacramento State — ESPN+
Sunday, March 8 — Quarterfinals (top seeds enter)
- 7:30 p.m. ET — No. 1 Portland State vs. Winner of Game 1 — ESPN+
- 10:00 p.m. ET — No. 2 Montana State vs. Winner of Game 2 — ESPN+
Monday, March 9 — Remaining quarterfinals
- 7:30 p.m. ET — No. 4 Montana vs. No. 5 Northern Colorado — ESPN+
- 10:00 p.m. ET — No. 3 Eastern Washington vs. No. 6 Weber State — ESPN+
Tuesday, March 10 — Semifinal night
- 9:00 p.m. ET — Winner of Portland State game vs. Winner of Montana/Northern Colorado — ESPNU and ESPN+
- 11:30 p.m. ET — Winner of Montana State game vs. Winner of Eastern Washington/Weber State — ESPNU and ESPN+
Wednesday, March 11 — Championship
- 11:30 p.m. ET — Semifinal winners meet for the title — ESPN2
Matchups and storylines to follow during Starch Madness
Portland State claims the top seed after a strong regular season. Montana State sits close behind as the clear second favorite.
- Watch: Portland State’s offense and how it handles the pace of tournament play.
- Dark horse: Northern Colorado, with 20 wins, could spring an upset from the middle seeds.
- Key rivalry: Montana and Montana State games usually carry extra intensity.
- Upset potential: Lower seeds like Idaho and Sacramento State can shake brackets if they catch fire.
Every conference tournament brings pressure. One hot shooting night can change NCAA hopes for an entire season.
Quick links and resources for Big Sky fans
- Latest college basketball news and analysis
- Full men’s college basketball schedule 2025-26
- Updated men’s conference standings
- ESPN+ subscription details for streaming all games
