Club Benefits
The Big Ten sent eight teams to March Madness last year, and at least five — regular-season winners Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Illinois and Purdue — look set to make the Big Dance this month. They'd each love to enter as Big Ten tournament champions, however, for the likes of Penn State, Oregon and Maryland, winning this tournament is their only route to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Here's how to watch Big Ten tournament live streams from anywhere with a VPN – potentially for FREE!
The 2026 Big Ten tournament runs from Tuesday, March 10 to Sunday, March 15.
• WATCH FREE — All games on DAZN (U.K. only)
• U.S. — CBS/Paramount+, Big Ten Network (via Hulu + Live TV/DirecTV), NBC/ Peacock
• Watch free when outside U.K — NordVPN 100% risk free
Only 15 of the 18 teams got to participate in the Big Ten tournament a year ago, following the conference's expansion, but we're getting a full field this time out. That's the good news. The bad? They've had to fiddle with the format to make things work, and they've skewed the balance overwhelmingly towards the strongest teams.
The top four seeds are getting a triple-bye to the quarter-finals, whereas the bottom four will need to win five games in five days just to reach the final. At March Madness the First Four only need to navigate one extra game.
At the time of publication the seeding order hasn't yet been finalized, but the Michigan Wolverines — the projected No.3 overall seed — are right at the top of the pecking order, with the Penn State Nittany Lions at the opposite end.
Check out all of the TV and streaming details below to find out how to watch Big Ten tournament 2026 from anywhere, including free options.
Big Ten tournament schedule 2026
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FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 10
4 p.m. — No.16 vs No.17 | Peacock
Followed by — No.15 vs No.18 | Peacock
SECOND ROUND
Wednesday, March 11
11 a.m. — No.9 vs No.16/17 | Peacock
Followed by — No.12 vs No.13 | Peacock
5:30 p.m. — No.10 vs No.15/18 | Big 10 Network
Followed by — No.11 vs No.14 | Big 10 Network
THIRD ROUND
Thursday, March 12
11 a.m. — No.3 vs No.9/16/17 | Big 10 Network
Followed by — No.5 vs No.12/13 | Big 10 Network
5:30 p.m. — No.7 vs No.10/15/18 | Big 10 Network
Followed by — No.6 vs No.11/14 | Big 10 Network
QUARTER-FINALS
Friday, March 13
11 a.m. — No.1 vs No.3/9/16/17 | Big 10 Network
Followed by — No.4 vs No.5/12/13 | Big 10 Network
5:30 p.m. — No.2 vs No.7/10/15/18 | Big 10 Network
Followed by — No.3 vs No.6/11/14 | Big 10 Network
SEMI-FINALS
Saturday, March 14
12 p.m. — Semi-final 1 | CBS, Paramount Plus
Followed by — Semi-final 2 | CBS, Paramount Plus
FINAL
Sunday, March 15
2:30 p.m. — 2026 Big Ten tournament final | CBS, Paramount Plus
(All times ET)
How to watch Big Ten 2026 for FREE
Good news! You can watch all 17 Big Ten matchups for free on DAZN in the U.K.. Just register an account and your in the game.
Outside the U.K.? You will need to use this VPN unblock DAZN UK and watch the Big Ten free streams when traveling away from home. Full info below...
How to watch Big Ten tournament 2026 from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching college basketball on your usual subscription?
You can still tune into the Big Ten tournament live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:
Watch Big Ten 2026 in the U.S. without cable
In the U.S., Big Ten tournament coverage is split between CBS, Big Ten Network and Peacock. (Streaming tip: Peacock Premium is $1 with Walmart Plus).
You can stream the CBS and Big Ten Network through various cable TV alternatives. We recommend the following:
Hulu + Live TV and the DirecTV MySports Genre Pack will let you watch all of the biggest Big Ten tournament ties, including the championship decider, both semi-finals and all four quarter-finals.
Hulu + Live TV costs $89.99/month after 3 day FREE trial, and comes bundled with Disney Plus and ESPN Select.
The DirecTV Stream MySports Genre Pack costs $69.99/month after a 5-day FREE trial.
How to watch Big Ten basketball in the U.K.
In the U.K., the Big Ten tournament is free-to-air on DAZN, which will also be home to March Madness 2026.
Best of all, all of DAZN's NCAA coverage is free-to-air for a limited time. All you need is an account. A DAZN subscription usually costs £25.99/month or £119.99/year.
If you're on holiday outside the U.K., you can still follow your usual Big Ten basketball live streams by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN.
Can I watch Big Ten live streams in Canada?
The 2026 Big Ten tournament appears to have slipped through the cracks in Canada.
If you're visiting Canada from the U.K. or U.S. you can watch Big Ten 2026 live streams with NordVPN. This VPN lets you access your local streaming services from anywhere. It's a great addition to your tech armory.
Canadians are not totally starved on college basketball – tournaments, including the Big 12, ACC, SEC and AAC will be available on TSN+, which costs $8/month or $80/year.
Stream Big Ten basketball 2026 in Australia
In Australia, college basketball has been subject to a lot of chopping and changing this season, but it finally appears to have found a home on ESPN via Foxtel.
At the time of writing, it isn't clear how many 2026 Big Ten tournament games will be featured.
Don't have Foxtel? ESPN's coverage is also shown on Kayo Sports – grab a 7-day FREE trial now.
After the freebie trial, Kayo plans start from AU$30/month and include NFL, cricket, AFL, rugby, F1 2026 and more.
Not in Australia right now? You can use a VPN like NordVPN to tune in on your account as if you were back home.
Big 10 basketball 2026 FAQ
When and where is the 2026 Big Ten basketball tournament?
The 2026 tournament runs March 10–15 at the United Center in Chicago. The champion earns the conference’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, making it one of the key events of Championship Week.
What’s new about the 2026 tournament format?
For the first time, all 18 Big Ten teams will compete in the tournament. Earlier formats excluded the lowest-ranked teams, but expansion and conference growth mean everyone now has a path to the title.
How does the bracket work?
Lower seeds start earlier in the week, while top teams receive byes. Seeds 15–18 play on opening day, seeds 5–8 enter Thursday, and the top four seeds begin directly in Friday’s quarterfinals, rewarding strong regular-season performance.
Which teams look strongest heading in?
Programs like the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball are entering the postseason in strong form after finishing the regular season near the top of the standings and securing favorable seeding advantages.
Where can fans watch Big 10 games?
Tournament games will air for free on DAZN in the U.K. The broadcast picture is more complex in the U.S. – games air across Big Ten Network, NBC platforms, and CBS, with the semi-finals and championship broadcast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, giving the title game a national stage.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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