Indianapolis has been selected to host the championships for all three NCAA divisions and the NIT in 2026. The men’s basketball committee of the NCAA has approved the inclusion of Torvik and Wins Against Bubble rankings as metrics for evaluating teams in the upcoming tournament.
The city, known as the NCAA’s home, was chosen to host the men’s Division I Final Four for the ninth time in April 2026 at Lucas Oil Stadium. In addition to the Division I finals, championships for Divisions II and III will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the Sunday before the top-level title game. The location for the NIT championship is yet to be determined, but the semifinals will take place at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.
This will be the second time that one city will host all three men’s championships, with the last occurrence in Atlanta in 2013. Indianapolis and Dallas have previously hosted all three women’s championships in 2016 and 2023, respectively.
Dan Gavitt, the NCAA senior vice president of basketball, expressed excitement for the upcoming celebration of basketball in Indiana. He highlighted the success of previous championships in Atlanta and Hinkle, emphasizing the opportunity for student-athletes and the passionate basketball fans in Indiana.
In evaluating the 68 tournament teams, the committee will consider various metrics such as Torvik, WAB, KenPom, BPI, and NET rankings. The addition of Torvik and WAB rankings to the team sheet aims to provide easy access to important data for all committee members.
Keith Gill, the commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, has been appointed as the vice chair for the 2024-25 season by the committee during their summer meeting. Gill will later serve as the chair for the following season.
The upcoming championships in Indianapolis promise to be a thrilling showcase of college basketball talent and a tribute to the rich basketball culture in Indiana. With the inclusion of new metrics in team evaluations, the committee aims to ensure a fair and comprehensive selection process for the tournament teams.
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