Honestly, if you're looking for the final bracket or the buzzer-beaters from the United Center right now, you’re a few weeks early. It's January 17, 2026. The big ten basketball tournament scores today don't technically exist yet because we are currently in the thick of the regular season "gauntlet."
The real tournament—the one in Chicago—doesn't tip off until March 10. But here's the thing: today’s games are basically the "pre-tournament." With an 18-team league, the seeding battles happening this afternoon are more violent than they’ve ever been.
The Current State of the Big Ten Mess
If you've been following the standings, you know it’s a total wreck at the top. Nebraska and Purdue are currently sitting at 6-0 in conference play, looking like absolute juggernauts. But look at the middle of the pack. There are about six teams separated by one or two games.
Today's slate is heavy. We’ve got Illinois hosting Minnesota at the State Farm Center. That game just tipped off at noon. Then you’ve got Ohio State taking on UCLA at 1:00 PM. That’s a "new" Big Ten rivalry that still feels a little weird to type, but it’s huge for tournament positioning.
Later today:
- Indiana vs. Iowa at 2:00 PM (Assembly Hall is going to be deafening).
- Wisconsin vs. Rutgers at 2:00 PM.
- Northwestern vs. Nebraska at 4:00 PM.
- Oregon vs. Michigan at 4:00 PM.
Every single one of these "scores today" feeds directly into who gets those precious double-byes in March. If you finish outside the top four, your road to a title becomes a marathon. If you finish in the bottom four? You’re playing on Tuesday, March 10, just to stay alive.
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Why Seeding is Terrifying This Year
The 18-team expansion changed everything. In the old days, you could have a bad week and still recover. Now? If you drop a home game to a team like Rutgers or Minnesota in mid-January, you might find yourself as the 11th seed playing a "First Round" game on Wednesday against a team that’s just as good as you.
Think about the math. There are 17 games in the actual tournament now. That's a lot of basketball.
Tracking the Scores and Live Updates
Since games are literally happening as we speak, here is the vibe of the afternoon. Illinois and Minnesota were tied up 26-26 early on. That’s Big Ten basketball for you. Low scoring, physical, and probably going to end with a controversial block-charge call.
You've got to keep an eye on the Ohio State vs. UCLA game too. Ohio State just came off a game where they tied a program record with 17 three-pointers. If they bring that heat against the Bruins, the scoreboard is going to be moving fast.
The Women’s Side is Just as Wild
Don’t ignore the women’s bracket. Their tournament starts even earlier—March 4 in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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Today’s women’s matchups are massive:
- Maryland vs. UCLA (1:00 PM on NBC).
- Michigan State vs. Iowa (5:00 PM).
Iowa is still trying to find its post-Caitlin Clark identity, but they are currently 15-2 overall. Michigan State is right there at 17-1. That 5:00 PM game is essentially a battle for a top-three seed in Indy.
What to Watch for in the Standings
Basically, the conference is split into three tiers right now.
Tier 1: The Title Contenders. Purdue, Nebraska, Michigan, and Illinois. These teams are fighting for the #1 seed. Nebraska being 17-0 overall right now is the story of the season. Nobody saw that coming.
Tier 2: The "Please Don't Make Us Play Tuesday" Group. UCLA, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio State. These teams are hovering around .500 in the conference. One bad afternoon and they are looking at a Wednesday or even Tuesday start in Chicago.
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Tier 3: The Spoilers. Rutgers, Minnesota, and Penn State. They might not win the tournament, but they are going to ruin someone else's season today. Rutgers especially has a knack for dragging teams into the mud.
How the 2026 Big Ten Tournament Bracket Works
When the "big ten basketball tournament scores today" finally turn into a real bracket on March 8, here is what it’ll look like:
- Tuesday, March 10: The bottom four seeds (#15 through #18) play the opening round.
- Wednesday, March 11: Seeds #11 through #14 join the fray.
- Thursday, March 12: The middle seeds (#5 through #10) enter.
- Friday, March 13: The "Big Four" finally play their first games in the Quarterfinals.
It is a long, grueling week. That’s why a win today—in January—is worth its weight in gold.
Real Talk: What Should You Do Now?
If you're a fan, don't just wait for the tournament. The "big ten basketball tournament scores today" are the building blocks.
- Check the Net Rankings: Every Sunday morning, the NCAA updates the NET. A win today for a team like Northwestern over Nebraska would jump them 20 spots.
- Watch the Tiebreakers: With 18 teams, tiebreakers are going to be a nightmare. Head-to-head records are king, so pay attention to who beat whom.
- Tickets: If you’re planning on going to Chicago (March 10-15) or Indy (March 4-8), buy them now. All-session passes are already on sale and they usually move fast once the "bubble" teams start getting desperate in February.
The Big Ten is a mess, but it’s a fun mess. Stay tuned to the live trackers today, because by 6:00 PM tonight, the entire look of the March bracket will have shifted again.
To stay ahead of the curve, start tracking the "Games Behind" column in the standings rather than just the wins. With the unbalanced schedule (you don't play everyone twice anymore), your winning percentage against the top half of the league is the only metric that will save you when the selection committee meets. Log into the Big Ten's official "Tournament Central" page to see the live-updating seed projections based on today's results.