The 2026-27 men’s college basketball season starts Sunday, November 1, 2026, with Notre Dame against Villanova at 9:30 a.m. ET at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome, the men’s half of a doubleheader with the two schools’ women’s teams. The full opening day in the United States is Monday, November 2. The season ends with the national championship game on Monday, April 5, 2027 at Ford Field in Detroit, the first year of the expanded 76 team NCAA Tournament.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Sunday, Nov. 1 | Season opens: Notre Dame vs. Villanova in Rome, 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Full opening day in the U.S. |
| Nov. 23 to 25 | Maui Invitational, Lahaina Civic Center: Arizona, BYU, Clemson, Colorado State, Ole Miss, Providence, VCU, Washington |
| Nov. 24 to 28 | Thanksgiving week tournaments in Las Vegas, including a 16 team bracket with Tennessee, Maryland, Iowa State, St. John’s, Oregon, Louisville, Texas Tech, Gonzaga, Kansas State, Baylor, Alabama, Michigan, Creighton, TCU, Miami and San Diego State |
| Sunday, March 14, 2027 | Regular season and conference tournaments end; Selection Sunday |
| March 16 to 17 | Opening Round, 24 teams in 12 games, in Dayton and Wichita |
| March 18 to 21 | First and Second Rounds |
| March 25 to 28 | Sweet 16 and Elite Eight |
| Saturday, April 3 | Final Four, Ford Field, Detroit |
| Monday, April 5 | National championship game, Ford Field, Detroit |
What Is New This Season
The NCAA Tournament grows from 68 to 76 teams, with the Opening Round expanding to 12 games across two sites, Dayton and Wichita, in the two days after Selection Sunday. Teams can now schedule 32 regular season games, up from 31, and the old exempt tournament rules are gone, so programs can play in more than one multi team event. On the court, the 10 second backcourt count is now called when the shot clock hits 19 rather than 20.
Women’s Season
The women’s season also opens Sunday, November 1 in Rome, with Villanova and Notre Dame tipping at noon ET after the men’s game. The women’s tournament is a 76 team field as well, with Selection Sunday on March 14, the Final Four on April 2 and the championship game on Sunday, April 4 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. UCLA is the defending champion after beating South Carolina 79 to 51.