The NIT is far more than the red-headed stepchild of the NCAA men’s tournament. It’s a place where mid-majors can prove their mettle against some of the best teams in college basketball, who all barely missed the 68-team cut by falling outside the bubble. In recent years we’ve seen powerhouse schools like Memphis and Xavier cut down the nets, but also the likes of Chattanooga and North Texas stun the bracket with incredible runs. The reality is that the NIL era means there are so many great teams that we’re bound to have a great secondary tournament every year.
One of the biggest differentiators between the NIT and the NCAA men’s tournament is how the NIT manages to capture the feel of college basketball better than its more-celebrated cousin. The opening three rounds of the tournament will be played at college sites, before moving to Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler University for the final rounds.
This year’s NIT is headlined by one bubble team narrowly squeezed out: Auburn. The only major bracket snubs either were not selected, or let the committee know they weren’t attending the tournament. Still, don’t sleep on those mid-majors dying to make an impact and take down a huge program on one of college basketball’s brightest stages.
NIT bracket 2026: The full field revealed
