2026 College Basketball Crown Semifinal Highlights

The Oklahoma Sooners have advanced to the championship round of the 2026 College Basketball Crown after defeating the Baylor Bears 82-69 in the semifinals on April 4, 2026.

The victory secures a place in the final for Oklahoma, a program that had previously missed out on the NCAA Tournament and sought to conclude its season with a trophy.

Semifinal Results and Matchups

The semifinal round of the tournament took place on April 4, 2026, with games broadcast on FOX. The matchups featured four programs that had advanced through the quarterfinals.

Oklahoma faced Baylor in one semifinal contest, resulting in an 82-69 win for the Sooners. The other semifinal matchup featured West Virginia against Creighton.

The tournament’s progression to this stage followed a quarterfinal round that included the following matchups:

• Oklahoma vs. Colorado
• Baylor vs. Minnesota
• Stanford vs. West Virginia
• Rutgers vs. Creighton

Tournament Context and Venue

The College Basketball Crown is a postseason showcase designed for elite teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. This event allows established stars and rising freshmen to compete for hardware on a national stage.

The 2026 event marks the second year of the tournament, following an inaugural 2025 competition won by the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

While the tournament began at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the semifinals and the championship game shifted to the T-Mobile Arena for the final weekend of competition.

Key Storylines

The 2026 tournament featured several notable narratives, including the final games for Creighton coach Greg McDermott.

For Oklahoma, the tournament served as a critical opportunity to salvage a season after failing to secure a spot in the Big Dance.

The event is positioned as a companion to the NCAA Final Four, which took place in Indianapolis during the same period.

Looking Ahead

With the conclusion of the semifinals on April 4, 2026, the tournament moves toward the championship game. The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Broadcasting for the semifinals and the championship game was handled by FOX, with earlier quarterfinal rounds airing on FS1.