A Spectacular Celebration of College Basketball: Indianapolis to Host 2026 Championships

Indianapolis, the city that never fails to deliver when it comes to basketball, is set to host a spectacular celebration of college basketball in 2026. The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has announced that Indianapolis will be the host site for the 2026 Division II and III men’s basketball championship games, as well as the semifinals and finals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). This is the second time the NCAA will conduct its three men’s basketball championships on one weekend in the same city, with the first instance being in Atlanta in 2013.

Indy is ready to host the basketball extravaganza!

The championships will take place on the same weekend as the Men’s Final Four, which was previously awarded to Lucas Oil Stadium. The event promises to be an exhilarating experience, with three champions being crowned in the Circle City. The NIT semifinals will be played on Thursday, April 2, at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, while the title game is scheduled for Sunday, April 5, at a time and venue to be announced. The Division II and III championship games will be played downtown at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, making it a day to remember for basketball enthusiasts.

“This will be a tremendous celebration of men’s college basketball across all three divisions in Indy,” said Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball. “When we did this in 2013, we had nearly 8,000 fans watching the Division II and III championship games, and the final two nights of this year’s NIT at Hinkle Fieldhouse featured sold-out crowds of more than 9,000 fans. It will be an awesome opportunity for student-athletes at the participating schools, as well as a showcase for the legendary college basketball fans in Indiana.”

The committee also approved the adoption of two new metrics, the Torvik and Wins Against Bubble rankings, to enhance the evaluation process for team selection and seeding. This move is expected to provide a more comprehensive assessment of teams, considering different data points and metrics.

A New Era in Team Evaluation

The addition of the Torvik and Wins Against Bubble metrics will provide the committee with three predictive ratings, including BPI and KenPom, and three results-based metrics, including Strength of Record and KPI, in addition to the NET. This is a significant step forward in ensuring that the best teams are selected and seeded accurately.

Keith Gill, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference

The committee also selected Keith Gill, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, as the vice chair for the 2024-25 season. Gill will take over as chair for the 2025-26 season, bringing his wealth of experience and knowledge to the role.

“It is a tremendous honor to serve on this committee with a great group of colleagues who serve as stewards for the great game of college basketball,” said Gill. “I look forward to working with all of them, especially Bubba Cunningham, our chair for next season, who I will support as vice chair. To be elected to serve in that role, and as chair for the 2026 championship, is one of the highlights of my professional career. It is especially satisfying to be able to do it in a year when we’ll conduct championships for all three divisions, plus the NIT, on what will be an incredible weekend.”

With Indianapolis set to host this spectacular celebration of college basketball, fans can expect an unforgettable experience. The committee’s decision to adopt new metrics and the selection of Keith Gill as vice chair are significant steps forward in ensuring that the NCAA men’s basketball championships continue to thrive.

Get ready for the championships!