2026 NIT Final Four: Schedule, Location & Preview

The 2026 National Invitation Tournament Final Four features top seeds Auburn, New Mexico, and Tulsa, along with fourth-seeded Illinois State. These four teams advanced to the semifinal round held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The NIT Final Four first semifinal game at Hinkle Fieldhouse features the top-seeded Tulsa Golden Hurricane facing the top-seeded New Mexico Lobos. Following that contest, the top-seeded Auburn Tigers will play the fourth-seeded Illinois State Redbirds.

Auburn remains the only high major program in the final field after defeating Nevada in the quarterfinals. Illinois State reached this stage by upsetting Dayton, while Tulsa advanced past Wichita State, and New Mexico defeated Saint Joseph's.

The winners of the semifinal games will meet for the NIT title on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

What Is the NIT Final Four?

The Final Four NIT is the final stage of the National Invitation Tournament, a prestigious postseason competition for 32 NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams that did not receive an NCAA Tournament bid. Originally founded in 1938, the NIT basketball tournament is the oldest postseason college basketball tournament in the United States and is currently operated by the NCAA. The Final Four round consists of the two semifinal games and the championship game, which determines the tournament winner.

2026 NIT Final Four Schedule, Dates, and Location

• Gamblers who are asking when is the NIT Final Four schedule begins should know it starts with the semifinal round on Thursday, April 2.

• The first game features the top-seeded New Mexico Lobos favored in NIT odds against the top-seeded Tulsa Golden Hurricane at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

• The second semifinal between the top-seeded Auburn Tigers and the fourth-seeded Illinois State Redbirds at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

• This final matchup moves to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with a scheduled tip-off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Teams to Watch in the 2026 NIT Final Four

• Auburn Tigers 1-Seed: As the only high-major program remaining in the field, Auburn entered the tournament as the highest-ranked team on KenPom (40th overall) to miss the NCAA tournament. The Tigers advanced to the semifinals after a 75-69 quarterfinal win over Nevada. Guard Kevin Overton has been a standout, notably scoring 23 points in their second-round victory over Seattle U.

• New Mexico Lobos 1-Seed: The Lobos reached the Final Four by defeating Saint Joseph's 84-69 in the quarterfinals. Forward Tomislav Bulijan led that effort with a dominant 27-point performance. Known for their high-scoring offense, New Mexico opened the tournament with a 107-point outburst against Sam Houston.

• Tulsa Golden Hurricane 1-Seed: Tulsa secured its spot in Indianapolis with an 83-79 quarterfinal victory over Wichita State. Guard Tylen Riley has been the engine of their postseason run, contributing 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the quarterfinal win.

• Illinois State Redbirds 4-Seed: Carrying the "Cinderella" label of this year's Final Four, the Redbirds have pulled off consecutive upsets against top-seeded Wake Forest and second-seeded Dayton. They rely heavily on a junior trio consisting of Johnny Kinziger, Chase Walker, and Ty Pence. Kinziger has been particularly clutch, hitting a game-winning three-pointer to eliminate Wake Forest and leading the team with 16 points against Dayton.

NIT Final Four 2026 Betting Odds and Strategy

The NIT odds are now available for sides, moneylines, totals, and futures for the championship team.

• New Mexico vs. Tulsa shows New Mexico favored by 4.5 in NIT odds with a moneyline of -182, while Tulsa returns +150. The total is 160.5.

• Auburn vs. Illinois State shows Auburn favored by -6.5, with a moneyline at -275, while Illinois State returns approximately +220. The total is at 149.5.

The futures market for the NIT title has narrowed significantly.

• Auburn (+110): The overall favorite. Despite a late-season collapse that kept them out of the NCAA tournament, they boast a high-caliber offense (No. 14 adjusted) and a top-5 strength of schedule.

• New Mexico (+210): A strong contender led by high-efficiency shooting from Jake Hall and interior rebounding dominance from Tomislav Buljan.

• Tulsa (+375): Their odds improved from +1000 at the start of the tournament to +375 after reaching the semifinals.

• Illinois State (+1400): The tournament's "Cinderella" as a 4-seed, having upset 1-seed Wake Forest in the second round

How the NIT Final Four Fits Into the National Invitation Tournament

• The National Invitation Tournament is a 32-team postseason event held after the NCAA Tournament field is selected.

• The NCAA administers it and primarily includes teams that did not receive NCAA Tournament bids but still rank among the stronger programs in Division I.

• The NIT Final Four is played at a neutral site, traditionally Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
• It consists of two semifinal games followed by a championship game between the winners.

• These games determine the tournament champion and represent the highest level of competition within the NIT bracket.

• In the overall tournament structure, the NIT Final Four functions as the concluding phase, equivalent to the Final Four and national championship rounds in the NCAA Tournament, but within the secondary postseason tier.

••It is the point where the remaining teams have already won three games and are competing for the NIT title.