NIT bracket 2026: Tournament scores, schedule as Auburn survives upset bid from South Alabama

The first round of the 2026 NIT began on Tuesday with the Tigers and another No.

1 seed, Tulsa advancing to second round
Auburn will face No.

4 seed Seattle U next.

Only four power conference teams are competing in the NIT this year: Auburn, Cal, Wake Forest and Oklahoma State.

Multiple programs -- such as Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Belmont and San Diego State declined an invitation to the NIT after missing out on the NCAA Tournament.

Here is a look at the full bracket.

First Round : March 17-18 Second round : March 21-22 Quarterfinals: March 24-25 Semifinals : April 2 (Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis) Championship : April 5 (Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis)
No.

1 Auburn 78, South Alabama 67 | Recap No.

2 Nevada vs.

Murray State | Wednesday, 10 p.m.

Liberty 77, No.

3 George Mason 71 | Recap No.

4 Seattle U 67, St.

Thomas (MN) 52 | Recap
No.

1 Auburn vs.

No.

4 Seattle U TBD vs.

Liberty
No.

1 New Mexico vs.

Sam Houston | Wednesday, 9 p.m.

No.

2  Cal vs.

UIC | Wednesday, 11 p.m.

No.

3 Colorado State vs.

Saint Joseph's | Wednesday, 11 p.m.

No.

4 Utah Valley vs.

George Washington | Wednesday, 8 p.m
No.

1 Wake Forest vs.

Navy | Wednesday, 7 p.m.

No.

2 Dayton vs.

Bradley | Wednesday, 9 p.m.

UNCW 68, No.

3 Yale 67 | Recap No.

4 Illinois State vs.

Kent State | Wednesday, 8 p.m
TBD vs.

TBD TBD vs.

UNC-Wilmington
No.

1 Tulsa 89, Stephen F.

Austin 84 (OT) | Recap No.

2 Oklahoma State 84, Davidson 80 | Recap No.

3 Wichita State 74, Wyoming 70 | Recap No.

4 UC Irvine vs.

UNLV | Tuesday, 11 p.m
No.

1 Tulsa vs.

TBD No.

2 Oklahoma State vs.

No.

3 Wichita State