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UConn vs Michigan national championship game prediction, how to watch, updates

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The 2026 men’s college basketball season ends tonight. Will it end with a third UConn national title in four years? Or will it end with the Big Ten finally getting a national championship after a long 26-year drought?

Dan Hurley has the Huskies on the cusp of a dynasty, while Dusty May’s Michigan team is on a historic run of its own, crushing March Madness opponents on its way to tonight’s title game in Indianapolis.

More: 5 reasons Michigan will beat UConn for national championship — and one reason it won’t

Can UConn beat Michigan? Huskies have a better chance than you think

Here’s what you need to know for tonight’s national championship game between the Huskies and Wolverines, including predictions and how to watch.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

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UConn vs Michigan live score

This section will be updated throughout the game.

TEAMS

1H

2H

F

UConn

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Michigan

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What time is UConn vs Michigan national championship game?

  • Time: 8:49 p.m. ET, Monday, April 6.

What channel is UConn Michigan? How to watch national championship, streaming info

  • The game is airing on TBS, TNT, truTV, streaming via HBO Max.

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Armour: Congrats UConn. You’re now the team everyone loves to hate

Michigan UConn prediction: Who will win national championship?

  • Blake Toppmeyer: Michigan. The Wolverines’ total destruction of Arizona solidified that Michigan is the class of the tournament. UConn is playing well, but nobody is playing better than Michigan.

  • Paul Myerberg: UConn. The underdog Huskies get hot from deep and win another close one to capture the program’s seventh national title and cement Dan Hurley’s place as the king of the sport.

  • Jordan Mendoza: Michigan. The Huskies are able to make it a competitive game, but Michigan is just too stacked. The Wolverines pull away midway through the second half and party like it’s 1989.

  • John Brice: Michigan. The Wolverines played well enough in the regular season to land a No. 1 ranking for the first time in 13 years. They’re playing even better now — enough to end a national title drought that spans to 1989.

  • Eddie Timanus: Michigan. While picking against UConn at the Final Four seems like a bad idea, this Michigan team is clearly built different. The Wolverines will take it, 90-75.

  • Austin Curtright: Michigan. Michigan-Arizona was tabbed as one of the most-anticipated Final Four matchups in recent memory, and all the Wolverines did was dominate start to finish in a way no one has against the Wildcats this season. Michigan has defeated all of its 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament opponents by double digits, and finds a way to do so again against the Huskies, even with a potentially limited version of Yaxel Lendeborg.

  • Ehsan Kassim: Michigan. Yes, this UConn team has been impressive in the past two rounds with a big comeback vs. Duke and then shut down Illinois’ offense. Michigan is another beast, as the Wolverines have been the most dominant team in the NCAA Tournament. They pull off the win to end a couple of droughts, even with Yaxel Lendeborg playing at less than 100%.

That’s how the humans think Monday’s game will shake out. Here’s who an AI simulator thinks will win the national title.

Michigan vs UConn spread, line: Who is favored to win national championship game?

Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 9 a.m., Monday, April 6

  • Moneyline: Michigan (-325); UConn (+260)

Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg said he feels great and is expected to “give it a go” in the national championship game after he was injured in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4.

Lendeborg didn’t speak with media, but was seen inside the stadium walking around without much of a limp. When asked how he feels, he said, “great” and he didn’t fall during the day.

Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. added Lendeborg has done a “tremendous job” with his recovery and the team knows “nothing’s going to stop Yax being available and being able to play on Monday.”

He was not listed on Michigan’s availability report Sunday night, so he should be available to go vs. UConn.

The UConn guard suffered a foot sprain in the Huskies’ semifinal win over Illinois and didn’t practice on Sunday.

Ball said he is feeling “alright,” and will leave a decision on his status for the game Monday, April 6, up to UConn’s medical staff. He’s wearing a walking boot and won’t practice on Sunday, April 5.

“I’m doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow,” Ball said.

He was not listed on UConn’s availability report Sunday night, so he should be available to go vs. Michigan.

Favorite national championship storyline

  • John Leuzzi: Alex Karaban finishes his career by becoming the first non-UCLA player to win three national championship titles.

  • Jordan Mendoza: All of the journey’s each player had to end up at Michigan.

  • Ehsan Kassim: Will the Big Ten end its NCAA championship drought in men’s basketball?

  • Austin Curtright: Dan Hurley’s dynasty. UConn is looking for its third title of the last four seasons, and Hurley is quickly establishing himself as one of the best postseason coaches ever. Can he somehow find a way to upset another Goliath like he and UConn did against Duke?

UConn will win National Championship game vs Michigan if…

  • John Leuzzi: It can knock down 3-pointers.

  • Jordan Mendoza: If it makes this an ugly, slow game.

  • Ehsan Kassim: The Huskies can continue to hit the 3-point shot at a high clip

  • Austin Curtright: It controls tempo. UConn has to force Michigan into a rough shooting night, which won’t be easy. The Huskies need to control the pace and be efficient offensively.

Michigan will win National Championship game vs UConn  if…

  • John Leuzzi: It’s size and length inside causes disruption to UConn’s offense.

  • Jordan Mendoza: Doesn’t change anything from this tournament.

  • Ehsan Kassim: Yaxel Lendeborg is healthy and close to 100%

  • Austin Curtright: It avoids a complete meltdown. Michigan has been nothing short of dominant in the NCAA Tournament, and I don’t expect that to change barring complete collapse against UConn.

Who will win Final Four Most Outstanding Player?

  • John Leuzzi: Tarris Reed Jr. — Reed has been the difference maker for UConn’s. There has not been a more impactful player for the Huskies in the last month.

  • Jordan Mendoza: Elliot Cadeau — He has stepped his game up incredibly in the tournament, making Michigan impossible to beat.

  • Ehsan Kassim: Aday Mara — Mara was dominant against Illinois. Another big game from the big man will help him win the trophy.

  • Austin Curtright: Yaxel Lendeborg — Yaxel Lendeborg has been one of the best stories in college basketball, rising from JUCO ranks to UAB to now Michigan, where he has blossomed into one of the best players in college basketball. He has led Michigan all year, and won’t let an injury stop him.

When was the last time Big Ten team won men’s basketball national championship?

The last Big Ten team to win a men’s basketball national championship was Michigan State in 2000 with their “Flintstones.”

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Dan Hurley: College basketball’s most animated head coach

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is Dan Hurley’s record in Final Four games?

The UConn coach is 5-0 in his three trips to the Final Four, and is on the cusp of a third national championship in four years.

Michigan’s road to national championship game

  • First round: beat No. 16 Howard, 101-80

  • Second round: beat No. 9 Saint Louis, 95-72

  • Sweet 16: beat No. 4 Alabama, 90-77

  • Elite Eight: beat No. 6 Tennessee, 95-62

  • Final Four: beat No. 1 Arizona, 91-73

UConn road to Final Four

  • First round: beat No. 15 Furman, 82-71

  • Second round: beat No. 7 UCLA, 73-57

  • Sweet 16: beat No. 3 Michigan State, 67-63

  • Elite Eight: beat No. 1 Duke, 73-72

  • Final Four: beat No. 3 Illinois, 71-62

Michigan Final Four history: Has Michigan basketball won a national championship?

This is Michigan’s ninth Final Four trip and first since 2018. The Wolverines won the 1989 national championship.

  • 1964: lost semifinal to Duke, 91-80; won third-place game over Kansas State, 100-90

  • 1965: won semifinal over Princeton, 93-76; lost final to UCLA, 91-80

  • 1976: won semifinal over Rutgers, 86-70; lost final to Indiana, 86-68

  • 1989: won semifinal over Illinois, 83-81; won final over Seton Hall, 80-79 in OT

  • 1992: won semifinal over Cincinnati, 76-72; lost final to Duke, 71-51

  • 1993: won semifinal over Kentucky, 81-78 in OT; lost final to North Carolina, 77-71

  • 2013: won semifinal over Syracuse, 61-56; lost final to Louisville, 82-76

  • 2018: won semifinal over Loyola Chicago, 69-57; lost final to Villanova, 79-62

UConn basketball Final Four history: How many national championships have UConn won?

This is UConn’s eighth trip to the Final Four, all since 1999. The Huskies have won six national titles in their seven previous trips.

  • 1999: won semifinal vs. Ohio State, 64-58; won final vs. Duke, 77-74

  • 2004: won semifinal vs. Duke, 79-78; won final vs. Georgia Tech, 82-73

  • 2009: lost semifinal vs. Michigan State, 82-73

  • 2011: won semifinal vs. Kentucky, 56-55; won final vs. Butler, 53-41

  • 2014: won semifinal vs. Florida, 63-53; won final vs. Kentucky, 60-54

  • 2023: won semifinal vs. Miami, 72-59; won final vs. San Diego State, 76-59

  • 2024: won semifinal vs. Alabama, 86-72; won final vs. Purdue, 75-60

Why did Tarris Reed Jr transfer from Michigan to UConn?

The senior center started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons before transferring to Connecticut in 2024. His breakout this season as a full-time starter has been well-documented and is a huge reason for the Huskies’ NCAA Tournament run.

Reed entered the transfer portal shortly after the 2023-24 season, which was the last campaign under former coach Juwan Howard at Michigan.

“I saw Coach Juwan got fired. Definitely, I feel like it was like a no-brainer in terms of the portal,” Reed said April 5 before the national championship. “I hung around Michigan for a couple of weeks, and then they announced (Dusty May) was supposed to be the coach. I talked to him multiple times. I like Coach May, and he was just being super up front with who he was bringing in, who’s looking at recruiting-wise.

“So, feel like just him being honest with me, and I’m being honest with him, it was the right way. So, it was no bad blood.”

How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?

Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.

How old is Alex Karaban?

Karaban is 23 years old and has been at UConn since redshirting the 2021-22 season. He’s been part of two national championship teams in Storrs and is looking to become the first non-UCLA player to win three national titles in a career.

Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues

Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn’t stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.

∎ Read more about Cadeau overcoming adversity via USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg.

One of Dusty May’s son is a walk-on, the other is a student manager

Dusty May is surrounding by family on the Michigan bench. His son Charlie is a walk-on for the Wolverines, while another son, Eli, is a student manager — a role Dusty served under former Indiana icon Bob Knight.

In Michigan’s Elite Eight blowout win over Tennessee, Charlie got into the game and drilled a 3-pointer, much to the delight of his Wolverines teammates.

“It’s obviously tough to give up playing the game and being on a team wearing a jersey,” Dusty May told USA TODAY Sports about Eli’s role. “But I just thought as far as his long-term development, all the things our managers learn, problem-solving, they learn people skills. They learn to function. We try to give them a lot of responsibility because we know if they’re ever going to make it in coaching … they have to have the experience of doing meaningful work. Our managers have helped him become much more responsible.”

Where is Braylon Mullins from?

The UConn freshman guard is from Greenfield, Indiana and won Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award in 2025 at Greenfield-Central High School, roughly 30 minutes east of Indianapolis.

Where is Aday Mara from?

The 7-3 UCLA transfer is from Zaragoza, Spain. Mara was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game.

Michigan basketball stat leaders

SCORING

  • Yaxel Lendeborg, 15.2 ppg

  • Morez Johnson Jr., 13.2 ppg

REBOUNDING

  • Morez Johnson Jr., 7.3 rpg

ASSISTS

UConn basketball stat leaders

SCORING

  • Tarris Reed Jr.: 14.7 ppg

  • Braylon Mullins, 11.9 ppg

  • Silas Demary Jr., 10.4 ppg

REBOUNDING

  • Silas Demary Jr., 4.5 rpg

ASSISTS

  • Silas Demary Jr., 5.9 apg

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan UConn national championship game prediction, channel, news, updates

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