Two No. 1 seeds clash in Indianapolis as Michigan and Arizona meet in today’s Final Four nightcap with national title implications on the line.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four has produced a nightcap that college basketball fans have been circling on their calendars all season. No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona tip off at 8:49 p.m. ET today, April 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with a spot in the national title game on the line.
Both teams have dominated throughout the tournament, winning all four of their games by at least 12 points. Michigan stands at 35-3 after overpowering Tennessee 95-62 in the Elite Eight, while Arizona enters at 36-2 following a 79-64 win over Purdue. With Illinois and UConn meeting in the earlier semifinal, the matchup between the Wolverines and Wildcats has widely been called the de facto national championship game.
How to watch Michigan vs Arizona
The game airs on TBS, TNT and truTV, with streaming available on Max. Tipoff is set for 8:49 p.m. ET. Michigan enters as a 1.5-point favorite, with the over/under at 157.5 total points. Arizona leads the all-time series 9-2, including three consecutive wins, meaning the Wildcats carry the historical edge into today’s contest as the slight underdog.
The road to Indianapolis
Both programs navigated demanding brackets to reach the Final Four.
Michigan’s path ran through 1. Howard (101-80) in the first round, 2. Saint Louis (95-72) in the second round, 3. Alabama (90-77) in the Sweet 16 and 4. Tennessee (95-62) in the Elite Eight. This is the Wolverines’ ninth Final Four appearance and first since 2018. The program’s lone national title came in 1989.
Arizona’s route included wins over 1. Long Island (92-58) in the first round, 2. Utah State (78-66) in the second round, 3. Arkansas (109-88) in the Sweet 16 and 4. Purdue (79-64) in the Elite Eight. This is the Wildcats’ fifth Final Four and first since 2001. Arizona won its only championship in 1997, fittingly also in Indianapolis.
Key players to watch
Michigan leans heavily on Yaxel Lendeborg, a 23-year-old averaging 15.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in his debut season with the Wolverines after stints at Arizona Western Community College and UAB. Point guard Elliot Cadeau adds 10.2 points and a team-high 5.8 assists per game. Cadeau drew attention this week after suffering an allergic reaction before the team’s departure from Ann Arbor, though he was cleared by medical staff and is expected to play. He has also navigated partial hearing loss and blurred vision in one eye throughout his career, challenges that have not slowed him this season.
Arizona enters the game powered by one of the most productive freshman classes in the country. Brayden Burries leads the Wildcats with 16.1 points per game, followed by Koa Peat at 14.1 points and 5.5 rebounds, and Jaden Bradley at 13.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. Coach Tommy Lloyd made a deliberate choice to focus on younger talent rather than the transfer portal, and the results have been evident at every stage of the tournament.
3 compelling storylines before tipoff
Three off-court stories add further context to today’s biggest game in college basketball.
- Tommy Lloyd signed a new deal on April 3 to remain at Arizona, ending speculation that he might leave for the head coaching vacancy at North Carolina, where he had been named a leading candidate.
- Michigan coach Dusty May brings a personal dimension to Indianapolis. His son Charlie, a walk-on for the Wolverines, hit a 3-pointer during the Elite Eight victory over Tennessee. Another son, Eli, serves as a student manager, a role Dusty May himself once held under legendary Indiana coach Bob Knight.
- LeBron James’ son Bryce James is listed on Arizona’s roster as a redshirt freshman and will not play in today’s game.
What the numbers say
Michigan averages 87.7 points per game on 51.1% shooting, while Arizona puts up 86.5 on 50.3% efficiency. The Wildcats hold opponents to just 68.8 points and 39.2% shooting, with a rebounding margin of plus-11.1. Michigan’s rebounding margin stands at plus-8.2, and five Wolverines average at least 9.4 points per game. With the total set at 157.5, oddsmakers expect both offenses to push deep into the 70s before the final buzzer sounds.