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The NIT will select 32 teams for the tournament. The rules have changed, but we have teams that have already qualified.
BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA - MARCH 19: An NIT logo is shown on the court before the first round of the NIT tournament game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Richmond Spiders at Cassell Coliseum on March 19, 2024 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images) | Getty Images The NCAA will announce the 68 teams in the 2026 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday, March 15 during the Selection Sunday Show. Following the NCAA men’s bracket, the NIT selection committee will determine the 32 teams that will compete in the 2026 National Invitational Tournament.
The NIT field will be announced on March 15 at 9:30 p. m. ET.
The NIT has made multiple changes to the team selection process in recent years. Prior to 2023, a team that won its regular season conference title but did not win the postseason conference tournament secured an automatic berth in the NIT. If they ended up with an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament, they would have the option of playing in the NIT.
In 2023, the rules changed to remove that automatic qualification option. That did not make mid- and low-major schools happy because it was believed this would favor mediocre teams from power conferences. The selection process has changed multiple times since then.