Birmingham, Ala. – March 12, 2026 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team has arrived in Birmingham, Ala., for the 2026 American Conference Men's Basketball Championship, where the Bulls enter as the No. 1 seed.
South Florida (23-8, 15-3 American) earned the top seed by claiming the American Conference regular-season title for the second time in three seasons, finishing the year on a nine-game winning streak.
The Bulls receive a first-round bye and will open tournament play in the semifinals on Saturday, March 14, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
South Florida needs two wins over the next three days to claim their first American Conference Tournament championship in program history and secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulls have one previous postseason tournament championship, having won the Sun Belt in 1990.
The Championship game will take place on Sunday, March 15, at 3:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. The NCAA's March Madness selection show will take place following the game, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
South Florida will look to go back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011-12, and for the fourth time in program history.
Tournament Format & Schedule
The 2026 American Conference Men's Basketball Championship features a 10-team, five-day stepladder bracket. As the No. 1 seed, South Florida receives a double-bye directly to Saturday's semifinals at Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
The Bulls' semifinal opponent will be determined following Friday's quarterfinal round, but will be either Charlotte, Tulane, or UAB.
- Semifinals | Saturday, March 14 | 3 p.m. ET | ESPN2
- Championship | Sunday, March 15 | 3:15 p.m. ET | ESPN
Post-game press conferences will be posted to the American Conference's
YouTube.
Tickets:
Men's basketball single-game and season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls or by visiting USFBullsTix.com.
Can't Make a Game? Don't Let Your Tickets Go Unused:
Season Ticket Members who are unable to attend a game have options to ensure their tickets are put to good use. Tickets can be easily transferred to friends or family, or donated to a fan in need. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to transfer your tickets, or Click here for instructions on how to donate them.
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About USF Men's Basketball
South Florida men's basketball named Bryan Hodgson, 37, as the program's 12th head coach on March 24, 2025. Hodgson came to Tampa from Arkansas State, where he led the program to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first postseason appearance since 1999 in his two seasons at the helm.
The program, entering its 55th season in 2025-26, most recently won the American Athletic Conference regular season championship in 2023-24 and has made 13 postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournaments, nine NITs, and a CBI championship in 2019. Three former Bulls – Chucky Atkins, Charlie Bradley, and Rodenko Dobras – have had their jerseys retired and are members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center on the USF Tampa campus.
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