Tennessee State Wins OVC Title, Earns First NCAA Tournament Bid in 32 Years

Head coach Nolan Smith led the Tigers to their first conference championship since 1994.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Tennessee State University has won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, earning the school's first NCAA Tournament bid in 32 years. Head coach Nolan Smith, who arrived at the school in 2025, promised the team they could make history, and that's exactly what they did by weathering a close moment in the championship game before pulling away to secure the victory.

Why it matters

Tennessee State's last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 1994, so this championship marks a major milestone for the basketball program and the university. Coach Smith's leadership has helped revive the team and instill a winning mentality, which could lead to more success in the future.

The details

In the OVC championship game, Tennessee State weathered a close moment where their lead was cut to 12 points, but the team was able to regain their energy and pull away to claim the title. Coach Smith, who won a national championship as a player at Duke in 2010, has focused on building a close-knit team that is bought into his vision for the program.

  • Tennessee State last made the NCAA Tournament in 1994.
  • Nolan Smith was hired as head coach in July 2025.
  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament brackets will be revealed on Sunday, March 15.

The players

Nolan Smith

The head coach of the Tennessee State basketball team, who arrived in 2025 and promised the team they could make history by returning to the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee State University

The school's basketball program, which last made the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and has now ended that 32-year drought by winning the Ohio Valley Conference championship.

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What they’re saying

“Once, we weathered the storm, they cut it to 12 and we took back off a little bit. I just saw our guys get that life back and that energy they had at the start of the game. That's when I said, alright, my guys, they're here to play, they're here to be champions.”

— Nolan Smith, Head Coach (wsmv.com)

“This group is really just bought in. They are a very close group. They've grown together. It means way more to me now than it did as a player.”

— Nolan Smith, Head Coach (wsmv.com)

What’s next

The full 68-team brackets for the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be revealed on Sunday, March 15, at 5 p.m. CT.

The takeaway

Tennessee State's return to the NCAA Tournament after a 32-year drought is a testament to the leadership and vision of head coach Nolan Smith, who has built a close-knit, determined team that has bought into his plan for the program. This championship could be the start of a new era of success for Tennessee State basketball.