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April 6th 2026 - 6 Min Read

Frozen Four 2026: Teams, Scores & Betting Insights

College hockey’s national championship, known as the Frozen Four, is set. The 2026 NCAA men’s Frozen Four will be held April 9 and 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The four teams are Michigan, Denver, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, with Michigan facing Denver and North Dakota facing Wisconsin in the semifinals.

Michigan advanced after a 4-3 win over Minnesota Duluth; Denver beat Western Michigan 6-2; North Dakota defeated Quinnipiac 5-0; and Wisconsin earned its berth with a 4-3 overtime win over Michigan State. All games are on ESPN platforms, with the semifinals on ESPN2 and the title game on ESPN.

What Is the NCAA Frozen Four?

The NCAA Frozen Four is the final stage of the NCAA Division I ice hockey tournament, where the four regional winners meet in two semifinals and a championship game. It is college hockey’s version of a Final Four, and the men’s event is held each spring at a rotating NHL-style venue.

How the Frozen Four Fits Into the NCAA Tournament

The NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament begins with a 16-team field selected by the committee. Those teams are placed into four regional brackets, each functioning as a single elimination mini tournament. The winners of the four regionals advance to the Frozen Four.

The Frozen Four consists of the national semifinals and the national championship game. Two semifinal games are played between the four remaining teams, and the winners meet in the championship to determine the national champion.

Why the Frozen Four Is Unique in College Hockey

College hockey operates with a much smaller Division I field than sports like basketball.

The tournament includes 16 teams rather than 68 in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

This smaller bracket makes the progression from regionals to a four-team championship stage more direct and more emphasized as a standalone event.

Frozen Four 2026 Schedule and Key Dates

The Frozen Four schedule is set.

The 2026 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 9 and 11, 2026.

National Semifinals — Thursday, April 9 (both games on ESPN2):

Wisconsin vs. North Dakota — 5:00 p.m. ET

Michigan vs. Denver — 8:30 p.m. ET

National Championship — Saturday, April 11 (on ESPN):

Winners of the semifinals — 5:30 p.m. ET

The format is single elimination. Two national semifinal games are played first, with no reseeding.

Each matchup is predetermined by the tournament bracket, set before regional play begins.

The winners of those two games advance to the national championship.

The timing is condensed into a three-day window at a single host site.

The semifinals are played on a Thursday, typically with one game in the late afternoon and the second in the evening.

The national championship game is then played on Saturday night.

Frozen Four 2026 Teams and Tournament Field

The Frozen Four teams feature a heavy presence from the Big Ten and the NCHC, including the overall top seed and several historic powerhouses.

Michigan Wolverines: The Big Ten champions and No. 1 overall seed advanced after defeating Minnesota Duluth 4–3 in the Albany Regional final. This marks their 29th Frozen Four appearance.

Denver Pioneers: The NCHC champions secured their spot by defeating the defending national champion, Western Michigan, 6–2 in the Loveland Regional. Denver is seeking its 11th national title.

Wisconsin Badgers: The Badgers emerged from the Worcester Regional after a clinical 4–3 victory over rival Michigan State, returning to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2010.

North Dakota Fighting Hawks: The No. 2 overall seed dominated the Sioux Falls Regional, capped off by a 5–0 shutout victory over Quinnipiac to punch their ticket to Las Vegas.

Top Contenders in the Frozen Four

National Championship Odds

Michigan Wolverines: +175
North Dakota Fighting Hawks: +220
Denver Pioneers: +270
Wisconsin Badgers: +500

Underdogs and Breakout Teams

Michigan enters as the #1 overall seed and has been the consensus top team most of the season.

North Dakota (a strong #2 seed) is right behind them in most models and expert picks.

Denver and Wisconsin are viewed as capable but face steeper paths.

NCAA Frozen Four 2026 Game Previews

The hockey Frozen Four semifinal round is one of the most exciting events in sports.

Frozen Four Semifinal 1 Preview

North Dakota vs. Wisconsin

Thursday, April 9 — 5:00 p.m. ET

North Dakota (29-9-1, No. 2 overall seed) vs. Wisconsin (23-12-2)

This matchup revives an old WCHA rivalry. North Dakota brings elite defense, stifling backchecking, and standout freshman goaltending (Jan Spunar has been nearly perfect in the NCAA tournament so far).

Key forward Keaton Verhoeff leads a veteran, physical group.

Wisconsin, in its first Frozen Four since 2010, has shown resilience and clutch scoring but will need to overcome North Dakota's depth and structure.

Frozen Four Semifinal 2 Preview

Michigan vs. Denver

Thursday, April 9 — 8:30 p.m. ET

Michigan (31-7-1, No. 1 overall seed) vs. Denver (27-11-3)

A heavyweight clash between two of college hockey's most decorated programs (Michigan with 9 national titles, Denver with 10).

They've met four times in the NCAA tournament before, with Michigan holding a 3-1 edge (though Denver won their most recent meeting in the 2022 Frozen Four).

Michigan features superior depth, offensive talent (led by players like T.J. Hughes and Will Horcoff), and solid goaltending.

Denver counters with excellent special teams, a standout defenseman in Eric Pohlkamp, and a resilient, well-coached system under David Carle.

Frozen Four 2026 Predictions and Championship Outlook

North Dakota beats Wisconsin. North Dakota's elite defense, freshman goaltending (Jan Spunar has been outstanding in the tournament), and physical "hard and heavy" style give them the edge over Wisconsin.

Michigan beats Denver. This is the marquee matchup between two blue-blood programs with a combined 19 national titles. Michigan's superior depth, offensive talent (T.J. Hughes, Will Horcoff, etc.), and overall season-long dominance as the No. 1 seed make them the pick.