Championship Sunday Will Decide the Final Five Tickets to March Madness

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Championship Sunday Will Decide the Final Five Tickets to March Madness

Rodney Knuppel

Sun, Mar 15, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The bracket is almost complete.

After weeks of conference tournaments, buzzer beaters, upsets and unforgettable moments, Selection Sunday is finally here. By Sunday evening, the NCAA Tournament field will be revealed and the madness will officially begin.

But first, five final tickets remain.

Across the country, five conference championship games will determine the last automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. For some teams, the stakes could not be higher. Their season, their dreams and their chance to dance all come down to forty minutes.

From the Ivy League showdown in Ithaca to the Big Ten title game inside Chicago's United Center, Championship Sunday promises everything that makes March unforgettable.

Five games. Five champions. Five teams that will punch their ticket to March Madness.

Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines

Ivy League Championship: Pennsylvania vs Yale

Time:11:00 AM ET
TV:ESPN2
Location:Newman Arena; Ithaca, New York

The Ivy League tournament is small, intense and unforgiving.

Only four teams make the field, and only one earns a trip to the NCAA Tournament. That reality creates immediate urgency once the tournament begins, and Sunday's championship game will be no different.

Yale enters as the favorite after a strong 24-win season and a dominant run through Ivy League play. The Bulldogs have become one of the conference's most consistent programs and know exactly what it takes to win in March.

Pennsylvania, however, carries the weight of history and the opportunity to revive one of college basketball's most historic programs. The Quakers have already fought their way into the title game and now sit one win away from returning to the NCAA Tournament.

In a conference built on discipline and execution, expect a tense battle where every possession matters.

SEC Championship: Vanderbilt vs Arkansas

Time:12:00 PM ET
TV:ESPN
Location:Bridgestone Arena; Nashville, Tennessee

Few teams created more buzz during Championship Week than Vanderbilt .

The Commodores stormed into the SEC title game after stunning No. 4 Florida 91-74 in the semifinals. It was a performance that turned heads across the country and announced Vanderbilt as a serious contender for the conference crown.

Arkansas, meanwhile, took a dramatic path to Sunday's championship.

The Razorbacks survived an overtime thriller against Ole Miss in the semifinals, escaping with a 93-90 victory behind explosive guard play and relentless energy.

Now the SEC title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid are on the line in Nashville. With elite guard play on both sides, this championship game could easily become one of the most exciting contests of the day.

Atlantic 10 Championship: Dayton vs VCU

Time:12:00 PM ET
TV:CBS
Location:PPG Paints Arena; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

If you want to understand what March basketball looks like, Dayton and VCU offer a perfect example.

Both programs are built on toughness, defense, and passionate fan bases that travel everywhere their teams play. When these schools meet with a championship at stake, the intensity usually reaches another level.

VCU has leaned on its physical defense and relentless pressure all season, turning games into exhausting battles for opponents. Dayton counters with experienced guards and an efficient offense capable of scoring in bursts. The Flyers win on Saturday over Saint Louis was an incredible finish.

The Atlantic 10 has produced memorable NCAA Tournament teams in the past, and Sunday's champion will look to continue that tradition.

American Athletic Championship: Wichita State vs South Florida

Time:2:15 PM ET
TV:ESPN
Location:Legacy Arena at BJCC; Birmingham, Alabama

For many teams in the American Athletic Conference, the conference tournament represents the only realistic path to the NCAA Tournament.

That reality adds enormous pressure to Sunday's championship.

Wichita State has some experience in the NCAA Tournament, but it's been awhile since they have been fully part of March Madness.

Standing in their way is South Florida, a team that has quietly put together an impressive season and now sits one victory away from one of the biggest moments in program history.

There is no safety net in this matchup. The winner celebrates and prepares for the NCAA Tournament.

Big Ten Championship: Purdue vs Michigan

Time:2:30 PM ET
TV:CBS
Location:United Center; Chicago, Illinois

The biggest stage of Championship Sunday might belong to the Big Ten.

Michigan enters the title game as one of the nation's elite teams after a dominant season that included more than 30 wins and a Big Ten regular-season title. The Wolverines have looked like a national championship contender for much of the year.

Purdue, however, brings its own championship pedigree and plenty of motivation. The Boilermakers battled through one of the toughest conferences in the country and now have the chance to capture the Big Ten Tournament crown.

With the United Center packed with fans from both programs, the atmosphere will feel more like an NCAA Tournament game than a conference championship.

The Final Step Before Selection Sunday

By the time Sunday afternoon ends, five more champions will be crowned.

The nets will be cut down. Confetti will fall. Players will celebrate the moment they have worked for all season.

And then the attention will shift to the Selection Sunday show.

The bracket will be revealed. Matchups will be debated. Upsets will be predicted.

But first, five teams must earn their place in the field.

Championship Sunday will decide who gets to dance.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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