who made it to the final four
As of the 2025–26 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the four teams that made it to the Final Four are:
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Michigan Wolverines
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Duke Blue Devils
These four emerged from the Elite Eight round and are set to play in the national semifinals in Houston, with Illinois confirmed as the first team to punch its ticket to the Final Four after beating Iowa in the East Region final.
Quick overview of how they got there
- Illinois
- Beat Iowa in the East Region final to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
- Michigan
- Won the Midwest Region final, advancing to the Final Four after a tough Elite Eight matchup.
- Tennessee
- Earned a spot in the Final Four by winning the South Region, finishing with a strong defensive performance in the Elite Eight.
- Duke
- Survived the West Region final to join the Final Four, continuing its recent run as one of the top national contenders.
Who’s in the 2026 Final Four (at a glance)
| Team | Region won | Notable recent context |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | East | First Final Four since 2005; beat Iowa in Elite Eight. | [1]
| Michigan | Midwest | Returned to Final Four after several years; advanced via Elite Eight win. | [10]
| Tennessee | South | Reached Final Four after a dominant defensive Elite Eight outing. | [10]
| Duke | West | Back in the Final Four as a top‑seeded favorite. | [10]