Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Announces Revised Format For 2027 Men's & Women's Basketball Tournaments
8/13/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference has announced a revised format for the 2027 MAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments.
Under the revised format, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in both tournaments will receive byes into the semifinal round, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will receive byes into the quarterfinal round.
The revised structure places greater value on regular-season performance and the final conference standings. By providing additional advancement opportunities to the highest-seeded teams, the format rewards programs for their complete body of work throughout the regular season.
The MAC will host the first round on Wednesday, March 10, the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 11, and the semifinals on Friday, March 12. Each of the three days will feature two afternoon women's games and two evening men's games. The men's and women's championship games will be played on Saturday, March 13, with game times to be announced later this season.
The Conference previously utilized this tournament format for four seasons from 2012 through 2015.
The tournament champions will earn the Conference's automatic berths in their respective NCAA Division I Basketball Championships.
Additional information regarding the 2027 tournaments, including opening-round games, television coverage and ticket availability, will be announced at a later date.
Under the revised format, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in both tournaments will receive byes into the semifinal round, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will receive byes into the quarterfinal round.
The revised structure places greater value on regular-season performance and the final conference standings. By providing additional advancement opportunities to the highest-seeded teams, the format rewards programs for their complete body of work throughout the regular season.
The MAC will host the first round on Wednesday, March 10, the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 11, and the semifinals on Friday, March 12. Each of the three days will feature two afternoon women's games and two evening men's games. The men's and women's championship games will be played on Saturday, March 13, with game times to be announced later this season.
The Conference previously utilized this tournament format for four seasons from 2012 through 2015.
The tournament champions will earn the Conference's automatic berths in their respective NCAA Division I Basketball Championships.
Additional information regarding the 2027 tournaments, including opening-round games, television coverage and ticket availability, will be announced at a later date.
2027 MAC Men's & Women's Basketball Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, March 10
Women's First Round Game #1
Women's First Round Game #2
Men's First Round Game #1
Men's First Round Game #2
Thursday, March 11
Women's Quarterfinal Game #1
Women's Quarterfinal Game #2
Men's Quarterfinal Game #1
Men's Quarterfinal Game #2
Friday, March 12
Women's Semifinal Game #1
Women's Semifinal Game #2
Men's Semifinal Game #1
Men's Semifinal Game #2
Saturday, March 13
Women's Championship Game
Men's Championship Game
Wednesday, May 27
Wednesday, May 27
Tuesday, April 21
Thursday, March 26