2025 Big Ten Basketball Tournament Projection: Bracket, schedule for field if season ended today - March 7

The Big Ten had one game on the schedule last night that saw a second-half comeback victory on the road in Iowa City. It had little effect on the overall standings in the league but did impact one of the team’s chances of even being in Indianapolis next week.

No. 8 Michigan State won 91-84 at Iowa on Thursday. With that, the Spartans moved to 25-5 overall and 16-3 in conference play as they had already won a share of the regular-season title, with this win earning it for them outright. Michigan State clinched the top seed in the tournament next week after Michigan lost two straight at home to Illinois and to Maryland.

The Hawkeyes, though, fell to 15-16 overall and just 6-13 in the Big Ten. That now has them on the outside looking in of the conference tournament next week with a game to go this weekend. Washington and Penn State have already been eliminated but the matchup between Iowa and Nebraska in Lincoln will now likely determine the final seed in the field – and play a part in the Cornhuskers’ chances of making the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s how the Big Ten Tournament projects as of Friday per the latest at PlayoffStatus.com. (Iowa is currently outside of the field, while Penn State and Washington are already eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament)

Big Ten Round 1 (March 12th)

Game 1: No. 12 Minnesota vs. No. 13 Northwestern
Time: 3:30 p.m. EST

Game 2: No. 11 Rutgers vs. No. 14 USC 
Time: 25 minutes after Game 1

Game 3: No. 10 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Nebraska 
Time: 25 minutes after Game 2

Big Ten Round 2 (March 13th)

Game 4: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Indiana
Time: 12 p.m. EST

Game 5: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. Winner of Game 1
Time: 25 minutes after Game 4

Game 6: No. 6 UCLA vs. Winner of Game 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. EST

Game 7: No. 7 Illinois vs. Winner of Game 3
Time: 25 minutes after Game 6

Big Ten Round 3 (March 14th)

Game 8: No. 1 Michigan State vs. Winner of Game 4
Time: 12 p.m. EST

Game 9: No. 4 Purdue  vs. Winner of Game 5
Time: 25 minutes after Game 4

Game 10: No. 3 Maryland vs. Winner of Game 6
Time: 6:30 p.m. EST

Game 11: No. 2 Michigan vs. Winner of Game 7
Time: 25 minutes after Game 6

Semifinals (March 15th)

Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 9
Time: 1 p.m. EST

Game 13: Winner of Game 10 vs. Winner of Game 11
Time: 25 minutes after Game 12

Championship Game (March 16th)

Game 14: Winner of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 13
Time: 3:30 p.m. EST