2026 NCAA Tournament Live Updates: NCAA Championship Game, UConn vs. Michigan
Catch the best highlights and observations from the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship game as Michigan takes on UConn.
Ben Lambert, for NBA.com
Updated on April 6, 2026 11:55 PM
The NCAA Championship is on the line tonight in Indianapolis as UConn takes on Michigan.
What we know about Monday night’s game:
Michigan advanced to the NCAA Championship game by defeating Arizona in the Final Four, while UConn beat Illinois. UConn is going for their third national championship in four years.
Check out our recaps of every NCAA Tournament game here.
APRIL 6, 2026 / 7:45 ET
Feel the goosebumps
“A fraction of a second can last a lifetime.”
"You have to give everything. Leave it all out there. Refuse to give up."
🙌 Nathan Martin gets us ready for the #NationalChampionship game 🗣️#MarchMadness
pic.twitter.com/z0j6hlaXrE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2026
APRIL 6, 2026 / 5:50 ET
Get ready for the NCAA Championship Game
APRIL 6, 2026 / 5:25 ET
It’s the National Championship Game!
Tarris Reed Jr. and UConn go for their third NCAA Championship in four years tonight in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
UConn goes for their third NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in three years tonight, facing Michigan, which star forward Yaxel Lendeborg suggested could be the best squad in school history. The Huskies survived a battle with top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight, then controlled their contest with Illinois in the Final Four to reach tonight’s game. They’ve allowed the sixth-fewest points per game — 65.1 — in this tournament, riding strong play from their big men — Tarris Reed Jr. (14.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and Alex Karaban (13.1 ppg, 5.1 reb). Coach Dan Hurley currently has the second-best winning percentage in NCAA history — .800, just behind John Wooden’s .825 — and two national titles under his belt.
Michigan could become the first Wolverines squad to win the NCAA Tournament since 1989 tonight. The Wolverines are a diverse, pro-style squad, who have scored the eighth-most points per game in this tournament — 87.8. Yaxel Lendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year (15.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg), suffered an ankle injury in their win over Arizona, but is expected to play tonight. Aday Mara (2.6 bpg) and Elliot Cadeau (10.9 ppg, 5.9 apg) have been his running mates. Coach Dusty May, the 2026 USBWA National Coach of the Year, previously brought Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023 before taking Michigan to the title game this season.
Dusty May's journey is unreal 👏 (h/t @JeffEisenberg)#MarchMadness
pic.twitter.com/XMW8K00FQQ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2026
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UConn shocks Duke in final second for win and Final Four berth
Braylon Mullins sank a desperation 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to give UConn an astonishing 73-72 win over top-seeded Duke.
Michigan rolls past Tennessee and into Final Four
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 27 points and Michigan rolled into the Final Four, overwhelming Tennessee for a 95-62 victory in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.