Hey, college hoops fans! The regular season’s a wrap as of today, March 9, 2025, and the Big Ten Tournament bracket is locked and loaded. We’re just days away from tip-off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where 15 of the conference’s 18 teams will battle it out from March 12-16 for the automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Whether you’re rooting for a powerhouse or a Cinderella, this bracket’s got drama written all over it. Let’s break it down—what’s the setup, who’s hot, and what’s at stake?
The Bracket Basics
The Big Ten’s bracket is a little quirky this year. With the conference ballooning to 18 teams—thanks to newcomers UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington—only the top 15 make the tourney. That means the bottom three (sorry, Iowa, Penn State, and Washington) are sitting this one out. The top four seeds snag double byes straight to the quarterfinals, seeds 5-9 get a single bye to the second round, and 10-15 slug it out on Day 1. Here’s how it shakes out as of today:
- First Round (Wednesday, March 12)
- Game 1: #12 Minnesota vs. #13 Northwestern – 3:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)
- Game 2: #10 Nebraska vs. #15 Rutgers – ~6:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)
- Game 3: #11 Maryland vs. #14 Michigan – ~8:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)
- Second Round (Thursday, March 13)
- Game 4: #8 USC vs. #9 Oregon – 12:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Game 5: #5 Wisconsin vs. Game 1 winner – ~2:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Game 6: #7 Illinois vs. Game 2 winner – 6:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Game 7: #6 Michigan State vs. Game 3 winner – ~9:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Quarterfinals (Friday, March 14)
- Game 8: #1 Purdue vs. Game 4 winner – 12:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Game 9: #4 Indiana vs. Game 5 winner – ~2:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Game 10: #2 UCLA vs. Game 6 winner – 6:30 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Game 11: #3 Ohio State vs. Game 7 winner – ~9:00 p.m. ET (BTN)
- Semifinals (Saturday, March 15)
- Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner – ~3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Championship (Sunday, March 16)
- Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner – 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Seeding’s based on conference records, with tiebreakers settling any deadlocks. As of this morning, the regular season finale—like Rutgers topping Minnesota—nailed down the last spots.
The Big Dogs: Who’s Leading the Pack?
- #1 Purdue: The Boilermakers are back on top after last year’s tourney win. Zach Edey’s gone, but Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are running a tight ship. They’re eyeing a repeat and a deep March Madness run.
- #2 UCLA: The Bruins, new to the Big Ten, stormed in hot, locking a double bye with a 15-3 conference mark. Their clash with rival USC looms large.
- #3 Ohio State: The Buckeyes quietly stacked wins, led by Bruce Thornton’s clutch play. They’re a sleeper to watch.
- #4 Indiana: The Hoosiers rounded into form late, and Bloomington’s dreaming of a title run on their home-state turf.
Bubble Watch and Cinderella Hopes
The middle seeds are where the fun’s at. #5 Wisconsin’s got Chucky Hepburn and a chip on their shoulder after a shaky finish. #6 Michigan State’s pedigree under Tom Izzo (six tourney titles!) makes them dangerous, even without a bye. And don’t sleep on #10 Nebraska—Matt Rhule’s football vibes might’ve rubbed off, because these Huskers are scrappy.
Down in the first round, #12 Minnesota vs. #13 Northwestern could spark chaos. The Gophers edged out the Wildcats late, but Northwestern’s got upset potential if Boo Buie 2.0 (whoever’s filling those shoes) shows up. #15 Rutgers, fresh off a win, might ride momentum past Nebraska too.
Why It Matters in 2025
This Big Ten’s a beast—18 teams, coast-to-coast rivalries, and a bracket that’s a gauntlet. With the NCAA Tournament looming, this is make-or-break for bubble teams like Maryland and Michigan, while locks like Purdue and UCLA want momentum. The $20 million Signature Event purse is nice, but it’s the auto-bid and bragging rights that fuel the fire. Plus, Indy’s electric for hoops—Gainbridge is gonna be rocking.
Catch the Action
Peacock’s got the Wednesday openers, BTN carries the load through Friday, and CBS takes the semis and final. Stream it on the FOX Sports app or ESPN+ for live groups if you’re a die-hard. Tickets are still floating on Ticketmaster if you’re near Indy—why not soak in the vibes live?
Who’s your pick to cut down the nets? Purdue’s depth? UCLA’s newbie swagger? Or a wild card like Michigan State? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’m pumped to see how this bracket unfolds! Let’s hoop it up, Big Ten style.
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