Michigan Wins First National Title Since 1989, Tops Final USA TODAY Sports Top 25

The Wolverines claim the No. 1 spot after defeating Connecticut in the championship game.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:33pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a college basketball championship game, with players and the court fragmented into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, yellow, and red.Michigan's national title triumph caps off an impressive season for the Big Ten conference, which placed seven teams in the final Top 25 rankings.Houston Today

Michigan has won its first national title since 1989, finishing the season as the No. 1 team in the final USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll. The Wolverines defeated Connecticut in the championship game to claim the program's second title. Michigan held the top spot for a stretch during the regular season and now finishes atop the rankings for the first time since USA TODAY began administering the coaches poll.

Why it matters

Michigan's championship victory ends the program's 33-year title drought and marks the first time the Wolverines have finished the season as the nation's top-ranked team since 1989. The Big Ten conference also had an impressive showing, with seven teams ranked in the final Top 25.

The details

Michigan's win over Connecticut in the title game secured the program's second national championship. The Wolverines held the No. 1 ranking for a portion of the regular season before finishing the year at the top of the final USA TODAY Sports coaches poll. Arizona lands at No. 3 overall, while Duke and Illinois round out the top 5.

  • Michigan won the national championship on April 7, 2026.
  • This is Michigan's first national title since 1989.

The players

Michigan

The University of Michigan men's basketball team, which won its first national championship since 1989.

Connecticut

The University of Connecticut men's basketball team, which finished as the national runner-up.

Arizona

The University of Arizona men's basketball team, which finished the season ranked No. 3 in the country.

Duke

Duke University's men's basketball team, which finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country.

Illinois

The University of Illinois men's basketball team, which finished the season ranked No. 5 in the country.

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What’s next

Michigan will look to defend its national title next season, while the other top teams in the final rankings will aim to make a run at the championship in 2027.

The takeaway

Michigan's national title triumph caps off an impressive season for the Big Ten conference, which placed seven teams in the final USA TODAY Sports Top 25 rankings. The Wolverines' championship victory ends their long title drought and cements their status as one of the elite programs in college basketball.