What are the 31 automatic bids to the NCAA basketball tournament?

Mar 4, 2026 - 02:00

0 0

What are the 31 automatic bids to the NCAA basketball tournament?

A general view of the NCAA March Madness basketballs, chair, and logo,

March is the time of year when college basketball takes center stage. The NCAA basketball tournament provides some of the most intense competition and sports interest. Bracketogoly has become a science and there are many students who follow it to try and get a handle on what teams will be seeded where and who has the best path to the championship. There are 68 overall invites with 31 automatic bids, and 37 at-large. What conferences have automatics for their champions?

America East

The Vermont Catamounts are winners of the America East Conference men's basketball championship game at Patrick Gym on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

American

The Memphis Tigers basketball team reacts after defeating the UAB Blazers for the American Athletic Conference Championship.

Atlantic 10

A general view of the Atlantic 10 logo.

ACC

Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9) holds the trophy and celebrates with head coach Jon Scheyer and teammates after winning the 2025 ACC Conference Championship game.

ASUN

The ASUN men's and women's basketball tournaments will be in Jacksonville beginning in 2026.

Big 12

Luke Bamgboye of the Texas Tech Red Raiders takes a shot as Milan Momcilovic of the Iowa State Cyclones defends.

Big East

St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. holds up his piece of net after defeating the Creighton Bluejays to win the Big East Tournament.

Big Sky

Montana State Bobcats guard Patrick McMahon (1) and guard Robert Ford III (20) and forward Brandon Walker (2) celebrate after the game against the Montana Grizzlies at Idaho Central Arena.

Big South

General view of the 2012 Big South Tournament trophy after the game between the UNC Ashville Bulldogs and Virginia Military Keydets at Kimmel Arena.

Big Ten

Michigan head coach Dusty May, center right, lifts the trophy to celebrate 59-53 win over Wisconsin with the team at the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

Big West

Big West conference trophy.

CAA

Colonial Athletic Association commissioner Joe D'Antonio presents Charleston Cougars head coach Pat Kelsey the conference championship trophy after defeating North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks at Entertainment & Sports Arena.

Conference USA

South Florida Bulls head coach Bryan Hodgson has words with an official.

Horizon League

A reflection in the Horizon League championship trophy.

Ivy League

Penn Quakers players celebrate from the bench against the Kansas Jayhawks.

MAAC

St. Peter's Peacocks players pose after winning the MAAC final against Fairfield at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

MAC

Diamond Deli owners Brett and Chad Magilavy created the Big MAC Champion sandwich to honor the Akron Zips men's basketball team.

MEAC

Coppin State Eagles guard Jesse Zarzuela passes the ball against Norfolk State Spartans guard Joe Bryant Jr. during the first half in the MEAC Tournament Championship.

Missouri Valley

Drake Bulldogs head coach Ben McCollum and guard Bennett Stirtz (14) are interviewed after defeating the Bradley Braves to win the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship.

Mountain West

The scoreboard at the Thomas & Mack Center during the Mountain West tournament.

Northeast

Long Island University Sharks guard A.J. Neal, Jr. drives to the basket as Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic defends.

Ohio Valley

Southern Indian's Javius Moore reacts to a call.

Patriot League

Colgate's Keegan Records dunks the ball in front of the student section inside Cotterell Court at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Colgate went on to defeat Lafayette 79-61 to win the Patriot League Championship.

SEC

Florida awaits the trophy presentation after beating Tennessee 86-77 in the championship game of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament.

Southern Conference

Arkansas Razorbacks forward Trevon Brazile is called for a charge during the second half as Samford Bulldogs guard Zion Wilburn (8) and forward Dylan Faulkner (15) defend.

Southland

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball players and coaches celebrate after winning the Southland Conference Tournament championship.

SWAC

Texas Southern Tigers guard Madarious Gibbs celebrates with teammates after winning the championship game of the SWAC Conference Tournament.

Summit League

South Dakota State's Luke Appel shoots a 3-pointer in a semifinal game against South Dakota.

Sun Belt

Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns hold up the trophy after defeating the Georgia State Panthers 82-81 in the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference college basketball tournament at Lakefront Arena.

West Coast

Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the St. Mary's Gaels after the game in the final of the West Coast Conference tournament.

WAC

Johnny McCants goes for a layup as the New Mexico State Aggies face the Grand Canyon Lopes at The Orleans Arena in the championship of the WAC Tournament.

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: NCAA tournament automatic bids