Eight teams are set to vie for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as the MAC tournament gets underway on Thursday afternoon.
And as is the case with most mid-major conferences, the berth to the Big Dance is anyone’s to claim. Five teams finished the regular season boasting records above .500 both overall and in conference, setting the stage for a formidable conference tournament.
Toledo (20-11, 14-4 MAC) won the regular season title, but Akron, Ohio and Central Michigan sit right on the Rockets’ heels. Last year, the top-seeded Rockets fell to Kent State in the tournament championship.
The MAC has made noise in the NCAA Tournament in recent years, too. In three of the past five NCAA Tournaments, the winner of the MAC tournament has gone on to win a game in the Big Dance. Buffalo accomplished the feat twice, in 2018 and 2019, while Ohio did so in 2021.
Which team will win the MAC and earn the chance to play Cinderella this season? The Sporting News has you covered with everything that you need to know about the 2024 MAC tournament.
MAC tournament bracket 2024
Only the top eight teams qualify for the 2024 MAC tournament, omitting the four teams with the worst conference records: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Buffalo.
| Seed | Team | Record (MAC) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo | 20-11 (14-4) |
| 2 | Akron | 21-10 (13-5) |
| 3 | Ohio | 19-12 (13-5) |
| 4 | Central Michigan | 18-13 (12-6) |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 19-12 (10-8) |
| 6 | Western Michigan | 12-19 (9-9) |
| 7 | Miami (Ohio) | 15-16 (9-9) |
| 8 | Kent State | 15-16 (8-10) |
MAC tournament schedule 2024
- Dates: March 14-16
- Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio
The 2024 MAC tournament begins on Thursday, March 14 and ends on Saturday, March 16. All three rounds will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. Below is the full tournament schedule:
Thursday, March 14: Quarterfinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1: No. 8 Kent State 67, No. 1 Toledo 59 | 11:00 a.m. | ESPN+ |
| Game 2: No. 5 Bowling Green 66, No. 4 Central Michigan 56 | 30 min. following Game 1 | ESPN+ |
| Game 3: No. 2 Akron 75, No. 7 Miami of Ohio 63 | 30 min. following Game 2 | ESPN+ |
| Game 4: No. 3 Ohio vs. No. 6 Western Michigan | 30 min. following Game 4 | ESPN+ |
Friday, March 15: Semifinals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 5: No. 5 Bowling Green vs. No. 8 Kent State | 5:00 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Fubo |
| Game 6: No. 2 Akron vs. Game 4 Winner | 7:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Fubo |
Saturday, March 16: Finals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2, Fubo |
How to watch the MAC tournament live
The semifinals of the MAC tournament will air live on CBS Sports Network, while the championship match will be carried live on ESPN2.
Fans can also stream all of the first round action on ESPN+. The semifinals and final can be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial. That way, you can try before you buy.
MAC tournament tickets 2024
Tickets to the 2024 MAC tournament are available on StubHub. For a complete rundown on prices and availability, check out the link below.