NIT bracket 2026: Full schedule, TV channels, live streams, scores for college basketball tournament

NIT

NIT bracket 2026: Full schedule, TV channels, live streams, scores for college basketball tournament originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The College Basketball Invitational may have been canceled, but the National Invitation Tournament is back.

This year’s edition of the NIT will feature 32 teams, including top March Madness snubs like Auburn and New Mexico.

The action will start with first-round games on March 17 and 18, and the championship game will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 5.

Here is everything you need to know about this year’s NIT bracket, including key dates and TV and streaming options for each round.

NIT bracket 2026

NCAA.com

How to watch NIT 2026: TV channels, live streams

TV channel: ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU)

NIT games will air on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU). Viewers can also stream NIT games on the ESPN app and Fubo.

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and college sports, plus “SportsCenter,” “First Take” and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the new ESPN app.

NIT schedule, scores 2026

Round 1: Tuesday, March 17

Game
Liberty 77, George Mason 71
UNCW 68, Yale 67
Wichita State 74, Wyoming 70
Oklahoma State 84, Davidson 80
Tulsa 89, Stephen F. Austin 84 (OT)
Seattle U 67, St. Thomas (Minn.) 52
Auburn 78, South Alabama 67
UNLV 75, UC Irvine 72

Round 1: Wednesday, March 18

Game
Wake Forest 82, Navy 72
Illinois State 79, Kent State 58
George Washington 79, Utah Valley 78
Dayton 80, Bradley 66
New Mexico 107, Sam Houston 83
Nevada 89, Murray State 75
Saint Joseph’s 69, Colorado State 64
California 91, UIC 73

Round 2: Saturday, March 21

Game
Dayton 80, UNCW 61
Nevada 73, Liberty 63

Round 2: Sunday, March 22

Game
Illinois State 78, Wake Forest 75
Auburn 91, Seattle U 85
Tulsa 77, UNLV 66
New Mexico 86, George Washington 61
Wichita State 96, Oklahoma State 70
Saint Joseph’s 76, California 75

Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 24

Game
Tulsa 83, Wichita State 79
New Mexico 84, Saint Joseph’s 69

Quarterfinals: Wednesday, March 25

Game
Illinois State 61, Dayton 55
Auburn 75, Nevada 69

Semifinals: Thursday, April 2

Semifinals and final at Indianapolis

Game	Time (ET)	TV/Live stream
Tulsa 74, New Mexico 69	—	—
Auburn 88, Illinois State 66	—	—

Championship: Sunday, April 5

Game	Time (ET)	TV/Live stream
Auburn vs. Tulsa	8 p.m.	ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo

NIT sites 2026

(Note: First-round, second-round and quarterfinal games will be played at the home venue of the higher-seeded team.)

Round	Date	Location	Site
First Round	March 17-18	Higher seed hosts	Campus sites
Second Round	March 21-22	Higher seed hosts	Campus sites
Quarterfinals	March 24-25	Higher seed hosts	Campus sites
Semifinals	April 2	Indianapolis	Hinkle Fieldhouse
Championship	April 5	Indianapolis	Gainbridge Fieldhouse