UConn and Michigan to Battle for 2026 Men's National Championship

Top-seeded Wolverines and No. 2 seed Huskies to meet in Indianapolis title game

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:23pm

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The University of Connecticut Huskies and the University of Michigan Wolverines will face off in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game on Monday, April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. UConn reached the title game by defeating Illinois 71-62, while Michigan advanced with a 91-73 win over Arizona.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of college basketball's premier programs, with UConn seeking its third national title in four seasons and Michigan looking to win its first championship since 1989. The game will showcase some of the top talent in the country, including UConn's Braylon Mullins and Tarris Reed Jr., and Michigan's Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg.

The details

UConn, the No. 2 seed in the East region, reached the title game behind 15 points from freshman sensation Braylon Mullins and a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) from junior forward Tarris Reed Jr. Michigan, the No. 1 seed, overpowered Arizona in the semifinals, led by a career-high 26 points from junior center Aday Mara. Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, a 6-9 forward, suffered ankle and knee injuries against Arizona but returned to play 9 minutes in the second half.

  • The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game will be played on Monday, April 6.
  • Tipoff is scheduled for 8:50 p.m. ET, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Braylon Mullins

A freshman sensation for UConn who scored 15 points in the Huskies' semifinal win over Illinois.

Tarris Reed Jr.

A junior forward for UConn who recorded a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) in the semifinal victory.

Aday Mara

A junior center for Michigan who scored a career-high 26 points in the Wolverines' semifinal win over Arizona.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A 6-9 forward for Michigan who suffered ankle and knee injuries in the semifinal but returned to play 9 minutes in the second half.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of UConn, who has led the Huskies to three national championship games in four seasons.

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What they’re saying

“We've worked hard all season to get to this point, and we're excited to have the opportunity to compete for a national championship.”

— Braylon Mullins, UConn Freshman

“This team has been through a lot, but we've never stopped believing in ourselves. We're ready to leave it all on the court on Monday night.”

— Aday Mara, Michigan Junior Center

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-Michigan matchup will be crowned the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champion.

The takeaway

This championship game features two of the most storied programs in college basketball, with UConn seeking to cement its dynasty and Michigan looking to return to the top of the sport. The clash of styles and talent on the court should make for an exciting conclusion to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.