Indianapolis to Host NCAA Championships in 2026, Adds New Metrics for Evaluating Teams
Indianapolis to Host NCAA Championships in 2026, Including Final Four and NIT
Indianapolis has been selected as the host city for all three NCAA division championships in 2026, along with the NIT tournament. This announcement comes as the men’s basketball committee has approved the use of additional metrics, including the Torvik and Wins Against Bubble rankings, in evaluating teams for next year’s tournament.
The city, known as the NCAA’s home, will host the men’s Division I Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium from April 4-6, 2026. Additionally, finals for Divisions II and III will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with the NIT championship location yet to be determined.
This marks the second time a single city will host all three men’s championships, following Atlanta in 2013. Indianapolis and Dallas have previously hosted all three women’s championships in 2016 and 2023, respectively.
NCAA senior vice president of basketball, Dan Gavitt, expressed excitement for the upcoming championships, highlighting the success of past events in Indianapolis. Gavitt emphasized the significance of the tournaments for both the student-athletes and the passionate basketball fans in Indiana.
In terms of team evaluation for the tournament, the committee will now consider the Torvik and Wins Against Bubble rankings, in addition to other metrics like KenPom, BPI, and NET. These rankings provide valuable insights into team performance and strength of schedule.
Keith Gill, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, was also named as the vice chair of the committee for the 2024-25 season, with plans to serve as chair in the following season.
The upcoming NCAA championships in 2026 promise to be a celebration of basketball in Indiana, bringing together top teams from across the country for an exciting showcase of talent and competition.
