Michigan opens 2026 Big Ten Hockey Tournament vs Notre Dame

ANN ARBOR, MI - FEBRUARY 23: Notre Dame Fighting Irish goalie Ryan Bischel (30) makes a save on Michigan Wolverines forward Josh Eernisse (6) during a college hockey game between the Michigan Wolverines and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on February 23, 2024 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by

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The 2026 Big Ten Tournament begins in roughly 24 hours from now. Four Big Ten teams are all but locked into the 16-team NCAA Tournament field, but there is still room for a Cinderella to win three straight games — this is the first year the Big Ten has eliminated the three-game series format for the quarterfinals and now every game is single elimination — and steal a berth over the next 10 days.

The Michigan Wolverines (26-7-1) will open Big Ten Tournament play as the No. 2 seed at Yost against last-place

Notre Dame (9-22-5) on Wednesday night. Under head coach Brandon Naurato, the Wolverines are 7-3 in the Big Ten Tournament with a conference title in 2023 and a runner-up finish in 2024. Notre Dame is in its first year under head coach Brock Sheehan and has slowly improved throughout the season. Despite their lowly finish in the standings, the Irish have won three consecutive games to close the season — one-third of their season win total — and have not lost in regulation since Feb. 20.

Furthermore, despite being swept on the season, Notre Dame has played Michigan tough and has left the Wolverines banged up following each series, with injuries suffered to defenseman Henry Mews (season-ending) and goalie Jack Ivankovic. The last time these two teams faced in the conference tournament was just two years ago when Michigan swept the Irish, 2-0, and ended their season.

If Michigan can win its fifth game over the Irish, the Wolverines will play the highest remaining seed on Saturday night in Ann Arbor. On paper, that appears to be No. 3 seed Penn State (20-12-2). Penn State is set to face No. 6 seed Minnesota (11-21-3) at Pegula on Wednesday night — a team the Nittany Lions have posted a 3-1 record against this season and, if that trend continues, the Wolverines would relish an opportunity for revenge.

Despite posting a 3-1 record against Penn State this season, Michigan is sure not to have forgotten what happened last season when the Nittany Lions prematurely ended Michigan’s season at Yost with a two-game sweep in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. For Michigan, true revenge may not be possible — it would be difficult to knock Penn State out of the NCAA Tournament — but with the Nittany Lions currently sitting at No. 11 in the NPI rankings, Michigan could ensure a much more difficult path to the Frozen Four.

On the other side of the bracket, Michigan State (25-7-2) clinched the regular-season title last weekend by just two points over Michigan and will now await the winner of the lowest seed in the semifinals on Saturday. The 4/5 matchup between Wisconsin (21-11-2) and Ohio State (12-20-2) looks to be a slugfest with two teams that split their season series, and possible revenge for the Badgers, who were eliminated by the Buckeyes last year in the quarterfinals. If the seedings hold, and Wisconsin exacts its toll against pesky Ohio State, it sets up a fascinating semifinal matchup with Michigan State.

Wisconsin’s seeding is not indicative of the team it was the majority of the season. For unknown reasons, the Badgers hit a confounding six-game skid early in 2026, with all losses coming to conference opponents, and all but one loss coming by multiple goals. But despite this slide, Mike Hastings’s team rebounded to finish 6-2 down the stretch and only missed the 3-seed by two points. Now, the Badgers are positioned for a rubber match against Michigan State at Munn, an arena they swept the Spartans in early this season.

If seedings hold throughout, it would set up a heavyweight matchup and potential national championship preview between Michigan and Michigan State at Munn.