Northern Iowa wins 2026 Arch Madness and goes to NCAA Tournament

Northern Iowa won the Arch Madness title for the first time in 10 years. They had to win 4 games in 4 days, which is a first for the conference.
By Newsroom | Sports, Basketball |

NORTHERN IOWA SEIZES MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Northern Iowa, as the No. 6 seed, has emerged victorious in the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, often referred to as "Arch Madness." Their decisive 84-69 win over No. 5 seed UIC in the championship game on Sunday, March 8, secures their automatic berth in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. This marks Northern Iowa's first trip to the NCAA Tournament in a decade.

The Panthers' path to the title was arduous, requiring them to win four games in four consecutive days, a feat noted as unprecedented in the conference's history. Their final triumph capped off a tournament that saw significant upsets and close contests throughout.

Tournament Progression and Key Results

The tournament, which featured all 11 teams from the Missouri Valley Conference, commenced on Thursday, March 5.

  • Championship Game (Sunday, March 8):

  • No. 6 Northern Iowa 84, No. 5 UIC 69

  • Semifinals (Saturday, March 7):

  • No. 6 Northern Iowa 73, No. 2 Bradley 69

  • No. 5 UIC 72, No. 9 Drake 51

  • Quarterfinals (Friday, March 6):

  • No. 9 Drake 100, No. 1 Belmont 79

  • No. 5 UIC 92, No. 4 Murray State 79

  • No. 2 Bradley 90, No. 7 Valparaiso 84 (2OT)

  • No. 6 Northern Iowa 74, No. 3 Illinois State 52

  • First Round (Thursday, March 5):

  • No. 9 Drake 67, No. 8 Southern Illinois 63

  • No. 7 Valparaiso 63, No. 10 Indiana State 62

  • No. 6 Northern Iowa 68, No. 11 Evansville 59

Notably, No. 9 seed Drake orchestrated a significant upset by defeating No. 1 seed Belmont in the quarterfinals.

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Broadcast and Viewing Information

The tournament's broadcast schedule saw a progression of networks. Early-round games were aired on the MVC TV Network, with semifinal matchups broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The championship game was carried by CBS, with streaming options available on Paramount+ and DIRECTV.

Historical Context and Conference Landscape

The Missouri Valley Conference has operated as a single-bid conference since Wichita State's departure after the 2016-17 season. The conference boasts a history where all its members have, at some point, qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Recent NCAA Tournament appearances for some of the participating teams include:

  • Drake: 2025 (11th seed, second round)

  • Murray State: 2022 (No. 7 seed, second round - as OVC member)

  • Belmont: 2019 (11th seed, first round - as OVC member)

  • Bradley: 2019 (No. 15 seed, first round)

  • Northern Iowa: 2016 (No. 11 seed, second round)

  • Valparaiso: 2015 (13th seed, Top 64 - as Horizon League member)

  • Indiana State: 2011 (14th seed, Top 64)

  • Southern Illinois: 2007 (No. 4 seed, Sweet 16)

  • UIC: 2004 (No. 13 seed, first round - as Horizon League member)

  • Evansville: 1999 (11th seed, at-large, first round)

  • Illinois State: 1998 (No. 9 seed, second round)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who won the 2026 Arch Madness tournament?
Northern Iowa won the 2026 Arch Madness tournament. They beat UIC with a score of 84-69 in the final game on Sunday, March 8.
Q: When did Northern Iowa last go to the NCAA Tournament?
Northern Iowa is going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years. Their last appearance was in 2016.
Q: How did Northern Iowa win the Arch Madness tournament?
Northern Iowa, as the No. 6 seed, won four games in four days to claim the title. This is the first time in the conference's history that a team has won four games in four days.
Q: Who did Northern Iowa beat in the Arch Madness championship game?
Northern Iowa beat No. 5 seed UIC in the championship game on March 8, 2026. The final score was 84-69.
Q: What does winning Arch Madness mean for Northern Iowa?
Winning the Arch Madness tournament means Northern Iowa gets an automatic spot in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. This is a big chance for the team to compete nationally.