SWAC Announces New Basketball Tournament Format Starting 2026-27

The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced Thursday that it will implement a new format for its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments starting with the 2026-27 season. The changes come after a recommendation from the league’s basketball working group, which includes coaches and administrators, according to a SWAC statement.

The revised format will feature the conference’s top 10 teams at the end of the regular season. The top two seeds will receive byes into the semifinal round. Seeds No. 3 and No. 4 will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while seeds No. 5 and No. 6 will earn byes into the second round.

The first round will pit the No. 8 seed against the No. 9 seed, and the No. 7 seed against the No. 10 seed. Winners of those games will face the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds in the second round. Quarterfinal matchups will feature the No. 4 seed against the winner from the No. 5 side, and the No. 3 seed against the winner from the No. 6 side.

The semifinals will see the No. 1 seed face the winner from the No. 4 side, while the No. 2 seed will meet the winner from the No. 3 side. The SWAC said it will continue to evaluate the tournament format to assess growth opportunities and long-term sustainability. Details about tournament dates, game times, and ticketing will be announced later, according to the conference.

Follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (@BravesSports), Instagram (@AlcornSports), and YouTube (Braves Sports Network) for updates and behind-the-scenes content. The SWAC is one of the leading HBCU conferences, with a strong presence in various sports, including basketball, baseball, football, and more, for both men and women, according to the league.

Source: Original Article