NIT bracket, scores, schedule 2026: No. 1 seeds Auburn, Tulsa to meet in title game Sunday with semifinal wins

The Tigers will face the Golden Hurricane in the NIT championship game Sunday in Indianapolis

The 2026 NIT championship game is set. No. 1 seed Auburn will face No. 1 seed Tulsa on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis after each team recorded semifinal wins on Thursday. Auburn defeated No. 4 seed Illinois State 88-66, while Tulsa punched its ticket to the title game with a 74-69 victory over No. 1 seed New Mexico State.

Tulsa forward David Green finished with a team-high 13 points in the win over the Lobos. In total, five different Tulsa players finished with at least 10 points. 

In Saturday's other semifinal, Auburn advanced to the NIT title game behind a team-high 24 points from Keyshawn Hall. The Tigers are one of four power conference teams in this year's NIT. While other programs like Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Belmont and San Diego State declined bids to the NIT after missing out on the NCAA Tournament.

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Tulsa will be seeking its third NIT crown later this weekend, while Auburn will play for its first title. Previously, the Tigers never made it further than the quarterfinals in the NIT. With the title game officially set, here is a look at the full bracket.

2026 NIT schedule 

All times Eastern

Semifinals

Thursday, April 2 

Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

• No. 1 Tulsa 74, No. 1 New Mexico 69 | Recap
• No. 1 Auburn 88, No. 4 Illinois State 66 | Recap

Championship

Sunday, April 5

 Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

• No. 1 Tulsa vs. No. 1 Auburn | 8 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (try for free)  

Auburn Region

FIRST ROUND

No. 1 Auburn 78, South Alabama 67 | Recap No. 2  Nevada 89, Murray State 75 | Recap Liberty 77, No. 3 George Mason 71 | Recap No. 4 Seattle U 67, St. Thomas (MN) 52 | Recap

SECOND ROUND

No. 1 Auburn 91, No. 4 Seattle U 85 | Recap No. 2 Nevada 73, Liberty 63 | Recap

Albuquerque Region

FIRST ROUND

No. 1 New Mexico 107, Sam Houston 83 | Recap No. 2  Cal 91, UIC 73 | Recap No. 3 Colorado State vs. Saint Joseph's | Recap George Washington 79, No. 4 Utah Valley 78 | Recap

SECOND ROUND

No. 1 New Mexico 86, George Washington 61 | Recap Saint Joseph's 76, No. 2 Cal 75 | Recap

Winston-Salem Region

FIRST ROUND

No. 1 Wake Forest 82, Navy 72 | Recap No. 2 Dayton 80, Bradley 66 | Recap UNCW 68, No. 3 Yale 67 | Recap No. 4 Illinois State vs. Kent State | Recap

SECOND ROUND

No. 4 Illinois State 78, No. 1 Wake Forest 75 | Recap No. 2 Dayton 80, UNC-Wilmington 61 | Recap

Tulsa Region

FIRST ROUND

No. 1 Tulsa 89, Stephen F. Austin 84 (OT) | Recap No. 2 Oklahoma State 84, Davidson 80 | Recap No. 3 Wichita State 74, Wyoming 70 | Recap UNLV 75, No. 4 UC Irvine 72 | Recap

SECOND ROUND

No. 1 Tulsa 77, UNLV 66 | Recap No. 3 Wichita State 96, No. 2 Oklahoma State 70 | Recap

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, March 24 

• No. 1 Tulsa 83, No. 3 Wichita State 79 | Recap
• No. 1 New Mexico 84, Saint Joseph's 69 | Recap

Wednesday, March 25 

• No. 4 Illinois State 61, No. 2 Dayton 55 | Recap
• No. 1 Auburn 75, No. 2 Nevada 69 | Recap