The 2026 Postseason NIT officially begins on Tuesday, March 17, with a six-game first-round slate headlined by (3) Wichita State hosting Wyoming. All of tonight’s games will be broadcast across the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU). The tournament expands to eight games on Wednesday, March 18.
2026 NIT First Round Schedule: Tuesday, March 17
Here’s the 2026 NIT First Round schedule for you. All of the games will be shown on one of the ESPN family of network TV channels tonight.
Games played at campus sites.
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Seed | TV Channel |
| 6:00 PM | Quinnipiac vs. (2) Seton Hall | 2 | ESPNU |
| 7:00 PM | Wyoming vs. (3) Wichita State | 3 | ESPNU |
| 7:00 PM | Drexel vs. (2) Villanova | 2 | ESPN2 |
| 8:00 PM | Hofstra vs. (1) Tulsa | 1 | ESPN |
| 10:00 PM | South Alabama vs. (1) Auburn | 1 | ESPN2 |
| 10:00 PM | Boise State vs. (4) Oregon | 4 | ESPN |
Stuck on your primary bracket?
- 📈 Check the FIRST FOUR Betting Guide & Odds for Tonight
- 🏀 Official WBIT 32-Team Field & Bracket (PDF)
Key 2026 NIT Championship Dates
Keep track of the road to the title:
- First Round: March 17-18
- Second Round: March 21-23
- Quarterfinals: March 24-25
- Semifinals: Tuesday, March 31 (at Hinkle Fieldhouse)
- Championship: Thursday, April 2 (at Hinkle Fieldhouse)
Q: Where is the 2026 NIT Final Four?
- A: For the second consecutive year, the NIT semifinals and championship will be held at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Q: Who is the defending NIT champion?
- A: The Seton Hall Pirates won the 2025 NIT title.
