MAC Announces 2027 Tournament Format
The Mid-American Conference has revised the structure of its 2027 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, reshaping how teams progress through the early rounds based on regular‑season performance.
In both divisions the top two seeds will receive a bye directly to the semifinals, while the third and fourth seeds will advance to the quarterfinals. This arrangement is designed to reward teams that finish higher in the conference standings.
The opening round is set for Wednesday, March 10, with two women’s games scheduled for the afternoon and two men’s contests in the evening. Quarterfinal matchups will follow on Thursday, March 11, leading into semifinals on Friday, March 12. The championship games will be played on Saturday, March 13.
The new format builds on a structure that was used briefly between 2012 and 2015, and its primary benefit is a clearer path to the NCAA Division I tournament. Winners of each bracket will earn automatic berths in the national championship field.
Further information regarding opening‑round venues, broadcast partners, ticket sales and additional logistics will be released in the coming weeks, giving fans and participants a clearer picture of what to expect.