Trending Now - Final Four Viewing Guide and Expert Predictions for 2026

WHO:

Variety - The top four teams in college basketball competing for the 2026 National Championship are the Illinois Fighting Illini, UConn Huskies, Arizona Wildcats, and Michigan Wolverines.

ESPN - Tarris Reed Jr. is a key player for UConn, while Koa Peat is highlighted for Arizona.

WHAT:

ESPN - UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. is averaging 21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 blocks in the tournament while shooting 60% from the field.

ESPN - Arizona's Koa Peat is averaging 14.8 points and shooting 53% on 2-point attempts over the past 10 games.

NBC Sports - UConn's 73-72 win over Duke in the semifinals was described as a heart-stopping ending to the tournament.

ESPN - Arizona spent nine straight weeks atop the AP poll after opening the season with a program-best 23-0 start.

ESPN - UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. is described as emerging as the modern-day Wilt Chamberlain in the NCAA tournament.

ESPN - UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. had a 31-point, 27-rebound performance against Furman in the first round of the tournament.

ESPN - Illinois has ranked in the top 15 nationally in 3s made per game and 3-point attempt rate.

ESPN - The most popular pre-tournament combination of teams predicted to reach the Final Four was Arizona, Michigan, and Illinois, with Duke or Michigan picked over UConn to win the East.

ESPN - The second most popular pick was Arizona, Michigan, and UConn, with Florida instead of Illinois coming out of the South.

ESPN - The winner of the Arizona-Michigan game was selected to win the national championship more often than not, with 28 voters picking Arizona and 14 choosing Michigan.

ESPN - Of the 44 ESPN experts surveyed, 28 (64%) picked Arizona to win the national championship, while 14 chose Michigan.

ESPN - The three teams reaching the Final Four by winning every NCAA tournament game by double digits is the first occurrence since 1973.

ESPN - Tarris Reed Jr. had a 26-point, nine-rebound, and four-block performance against Duke in the Elite Eight.

ESPN - Koa Peat is averaging 14.8 points and shooting 53% on 2-point attempts over the past 10 games.

ESPN - Twenty-four voters picked UConn to beat Illinois, while 20 chose Illinois in the Final Four predictions.

ESPN - In the matchup between Arizona and Michigan, 29 voters selected Arizona, while 15 picked Michigan to win.

ESPN - Arizona averaged 95.3 points per game in the NCAA tournament, the most by a team reaching the semifinals since Kentucky averaged 97.0 in 1993.

ESPN - UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. had a 31-point, 27-rebound performance against Furman in the first round of the tournament.

ESPN - Arizona had 60 points in the paint and 30 from the free throw line against Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

Variety - The NCAA Final Four games start on Saturday, April 4th, 2026.

Variety - The tournament ends on Monday, April 6th, 2026.

ESPN - UConn and Illinois will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET on April 4th, 2026.

ESPN - Arizona and Michigan will follow at 8:49 p.m. ET on April 4th, 2026.

ESPN - UConn is chasing its third national title in four seasons.

ESPN - UConn has won its past two meetings with Illinois.

WHERE:

Variety - The Final Four games are held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

ESPN - UConn's previous meetings with Illinois included a game in the Elite Eight during their 2024 title run and a nonconference meeting at Madison Square Garden in November.

WHEN:

NBC Sports - The Final Four games are scheduled for Saturday, April 4th, 2026, with the second game starting at 8:54 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports - The second game of the Final Four, Arizona vs. Michigan, is scheduled to start at 8:54 p.m. ET on April 4th, 2026.

NBC Sports - The Final Four games are scheduled for Saturday, April 4th, 2026, with the second game starting at 8:54 p.m. ET.

Variety - The NCAA Final Four games are scheduled for April 4th and April 6th, 2026.

ESPN - UConn and Illinois will play on April 4th, 2026, at 6:09 p.m. ET.

ESPN - Arizona and Michigan will play on April 4th, 2026, at 8:49 p.m. ET.

WHY:

ESPN - UConn is pursuing its third national championship in four seasons, indicating a strong motivation to win.

HOW:

ESPN - UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. had a 26-point, nine-rebound, and four-block performance against Duke in the Elite Eight.

ESPN - UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. is averaging 21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 blocks in the tournament while shooting 60% from the field.

ESPN - Tarris Reed Jr. is averaging 21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 blocks in the tournament while shooting 60% from the field.

ESPN - Arizona ranks fifth in the country in paint points per game and second in 2-point attempts per game.

ESPN - Illinois has been one of the country's most 3-point-happy teams, ranking in the top 15 nationally in 3s made per game and 3-point attempt rate.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 19:08 UTC)

UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. has been a standout player in the tournament, averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds while shooting an impressive 60% from the field. In a thrilling semifinal match, UConn edged out Duke with a nail-biting 73-72 victory, thanks in part to Reed's remarkable 26-point performance. The Final Four games are set for on Saturday, with the second game kicking off at 8:54 p.m. ET.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 17:04 UTC)

Arizona has been a dominant force in college basketball, holding the top spot in the AP poll for nine consecutive weeks after an impressive 23-0 start to the season. UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. is making headlines as he averages 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in the tournament, including a remarkable 31-point, 27-rebound game against Furman, earning him comparisons to the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. The second game of the Final Four, featuring Arizona and Michigan, is set to tip off at 8:54 p.m. ET on Saturday.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 09:06 UTC)

The most popular pre-tournament predictions for the Final Four included Arizona, Michigan, and Illinois, with many favoring Duke or Michigan over UConn to win the East. The highly anticipated matchup between Arizona and Michigan, which is set to start at 8:54 p.m. ET, has seen Arizona emerge as the favorite to win the national championship, with 28 voters backing them compared to 14 for Michigan. Meanwhile, Tarris Reed Jr. has been a standout player in the tournament, averaging 21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 blocks while shooting an impressive 60% from the field.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 03:52 UTC)

In a recent survey of 44 ESPN experts, 28 picked Arizona to win the national championship, while 14 chose Michigan. This year's Final Four marks a notable achievement, as it’s the first time since 1973 that three teams have reached this stage by winning every NCAA tournament game by double digits. The second game of the Final Four, featuring Arizona against Michigan, is set to kick off at 8:54 p.m. ET on Saturday.

(UPDATED April 4, 2026 23:02 UTC)

In the lead-up to the Final Four games on Saturday, twenty-four voters have predicted UConn will defeat Illinois, while twenty chose Illinois to win, and in the matchup between Arizona and Michigan, twenty-nine voters selected Arizona compared to fifteen for Michigan. Arizona has been impressive, averaging 95.3 points per game in the NCAA tournament, the highest for a team reaching the semifinals since Kentucky in 1993, and they scored 60 points in the paint against Arkansas in the Sweet 16. UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. has been a standout player, averaging 21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 blocks while shooting 60% from the field during the tournament.

(UPDATED April 4, 2026 21:02 UTC)

The top four teams in college basketball competing for the 2026 National Championship are the Illinois Fighting Illini, UConn Huskies, Arizona Wildcats, and Michigan Wolverines, with the Final Four games set to kick off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, on Saturday. UConn will face Illinois at 6:09 p.m. ET, while Arizona takes on Michigan at 8:49 p.m. ET, and UConn is looking to secure its third national title in four seasons, bolstered by standout performances from players like Tarris Reed Jr. and Koa Peat.