Michigan defeated UConn to win the 2026 National Championship game.
What we know about Monday night’s game:
APRIL 6, 2026 / 11:20 ET
‘Hail to the champions, hail to Michigan’
THE WOLVERINES REACH THE MOUNTAIN TOP OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL 🔥
2026 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 👏#MarchMadness @umichbball pic.twitter.com/eYznvbV5Iu
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
For the first time since 1989, the Wolverines are the national champions, winning 69-63. They withstood one last challenge from the Huskies late, taking a gritty, hard-fought game.
Elliot Cadeau led Michigan with 19 points, while Alex Karaban had 17 to pace UConn.
“This team’s just found a way all season,” said Coach Dusty May. “(They have) a love, trust, respect amongst themselves.”
“We’re the hardest-playing team,” said Yaxel Lendeborg. “We’re the best team in college basketball.”
APRIL 6, 2026 / 11:13 ET
The bounces of the game, II
Solo Ball’s 3-pointer just kissed off the glass to cut Michigan’s lead with 67-63 with 37.2 seconds left. The Huskies still have a little life.
“No quit in these guys,” said Bill Raftery.
APRIL 6, 2026 / 11:04 ET
The bounces of the game
On one end, Solo Ball’s layup bounces off.
On the other, amid the resulting scramble, Trey McKenney knocks down a setback 3-pointer to give Michigan a 65-56 lead with 1:50 to go.
The national championship is in sight for the Wolverines.
APRIL 6, 2026 / 10:56 ET
Nine point lead, four minutes to go
60-51 Michigan with 3:48 to go. UConn needs to find their shooting stroke to potentially mount a comeback.
The Wolverines have forced six turnovers in the second half, giving them control.
Yaxel tips in his own miss 💪#MarchMadness @umichbball pic.twitter.com/0e2yQqK8TD
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
APRIL 6, 2026 / 10:38 ET
Michigan locks down on defense
52-45, as the Wolverines take control with 7:16 to go in the half.
UConn’s down to 30.9% shooting on the contest, and while neither team can buy a 3-pointer at the moment, the Wolverines are 15-of-16 at the line.
Michigan also has a 32-22 advantage in points in the paint.
APRIL 6, 2026 / 10:23 ET
Wolverines hot early
Michigan’s on the first significant run of the game as the crowd in Lucas Oil Stadium starts to rock.
ELLIOT CADEAU HAS THE STADIUM SHAKING 🫨
MICHIGAN LEADS BY 11 😳#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/D0KwzaJgn3
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
APRIL 6, 2026 / 9:49 ET
Michigan leads at the half
Roddy Gayle Jr. celebrates after his big dunk in the first half of the NCAA Championship Game.
33-29.
Both teams are looking to find their shot — Michigan’s at 36.7% to 33.3% for UConn — but taking care of the ball, with just five turnovers in the game.
Neither team has any fast break points, as the Huskies have controlled the tempo so far.
Morez Johnson Jr. (10 pts) leads all scorers, while Alex Karaban and Solo Ball (8 pts) are the top men for UConn.
But Roddy Gayle Jr. had the highlight of the half.
GET UP RODDY GAYLE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Yz0SkHVdwC
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
APRIL 6, 2026 / 9:40 ET
Feel the atmosphere
🔥🔥🔥#MarchMadness @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/3aYdZ6FSFG
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
Former Huskies rolling DEEP for the Natty 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/CU2XF1vWOY
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
Shout out ’99 National Champion Richard Hamilton, who went on to score 15,708 points in the NBA.
APRIL 6, 2026 / 9:31 ET
Back and forth we go
23-all with 4:33 to go in the first half.
UConn is pressing Michigan, slowing the game down, as we’ve seen seven ties and five lead changes so far.
APRIL 6, 2026 / 9:14 ET
A close one early
13-all with just over 10 minutes to go in the first half.
“This is the game UConn wanted,” said Grant Hill. “Keep it slow, play at their pace.”
Alex Karaban side steps and finds the bottom of the net for the first time tonight 🔥#MarchMadness @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/XYXZgUF7yk
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
APRIL 6, 2026 / 8:54 ET
We’re underway in Indy
4-2 Wolverines early, with Ian Eagle, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery on the call.
This is Eagle’s third National Championship game after taking over for Jim Nantz in 2024.
40 MINUTES TO DECIDE THE NATIONAL CHAMPION 🏆 #MarchMadness
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/73IDsYprmk pic.twitter.com/hSBmxfKlca
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
APRIL 6, 2026 / 8:32 ET
Vibes ahead of tip
Yaxel is ready 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/wceDTCRLzO
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026
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