The Big Ten had an unbelievable first weekend of the 2026 NCAA March Madness Tournament.
The conference compiled an overall record of 13-3 and has sent a Big Ten record of six teams to the Sweet Sixteen.
These six teams are Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, Nebraska and Iowa. This would have been an NCAA record, but the SEC, just last year, sent seven teams to the Sweet Sixteen. It’s also the first-ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen for the Cornhuskers and first for Iowa since 1999.
One thing is for sure, these Big Ten teams have been battle-tested all year for The Big Dance.
So how did Penn State fare against these six teams during the regular season?
They’re overall record was 1-6 against these Sweet Sixteen teams.
On Dec. 13, 2025 they lost to the Spartans in State College, 76-72.
Against Illinois Jan. 3, 2026, Penn State fell to the Fighting Illini at The Palestra by a score of 73-65.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Three days later, inside the Bryce Jordan Center, PSU came up a basket short against the Wolverines, 74-72.
At Purdue, Penn State lost to the Boilermakers, 93-85, Jan. 10.
The Nittany Lions then suffered one of their worst losses of the year Feb. 5, against Michigan in Ann Arbor, 110-69.
Against Nebraska in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers won, 87-64, Feb. 21.
A week later, Penn State had its biggest win of the season against Iowa inside the BJC, 71-69.
From the seven games played against these Big Ten Sweet Sixteen teams, the Nittany Lions lost by an average of 12 points.
Stay with Nittany Sports Now for all of your Penn State men’s basketball coverage.
