The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced a revamped basketball tournament that will debut in 2027 for both men's and women's teams, expanding the field to ten programs and reshaping how seeds progress through the bracket.
Byes and Bracket Flow
The top two seeds will receive automatic byes into the semifinals, while seeds three and four head straight to the quarterfinals. Seeds five and six enjoy a first‑round bye, and the remaining matchups will see the seventh face the tenth and the eighth take on the ninth in opening round games.
The format was devised by a working group of league head coaches and administrators, who argued that rewarding regular‑season performance would raise the competitive stakes and give more schools a chance to shine on a national stage.
Implications for the Conference
By aligning tournament qualification with the 2026 standings, the SWAC ensures that the top ten teams earn a spot, leaving the eleventh and twelfth out of the field. This structure is expected to generate more dramatic games and elevate the overall level of play, according to league officials.
The changes come as the conference continues to strengthen its national profile, with historic venues in Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia, poised to host key matchups.