The 2026 NIT bracket has been revealed — a field of 32 teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament competing for a chance to win a consolation prize.
However, as is the case every year, a group of teams will decline a bid. It could be that the school is disappointed it didn’t get a chance at the big dance, or wants to get a head start on recruiting, among other reasons. For example, the last two teams left out of the NCAA Tournament field this year was Auburn and Oklahoma. Both teams decided to handle the situation completely differently — Auburn accepted a No. 1 seed in the NIT, while Oklahoma declined a bid.
Let’s go over which schools turned down a 2026 NIT bid.
Oklahoma
As mentioned, the Sooners turned down the chance to compete for an NIT Championship, and would have been one of the favorites. The Sooners got hot down the stretch and made a run in the SEC Tournament. Bettors as DraftKings Sportsbook believed in OU, as 95% of the tickets for 71% of the money in the Bubble Props market was on the Sooners to make the NCAA Tournament.
Indiana
The Hoosiers were on this list last year, and here they are again. At least they are consistent. Indiana needed a run in the Big Ten Tournament to reach its ultimate goal, but lost as a favorite to Northwestern to end its season.
Seton Hall
Seton Hall had an outside shot of making the NCAA Tournament, but likely had to win the conference. The Pirates have one of the best defenses in the country, but the offense just couldn’t get them enough big wins to make the field.
San Diego State
SDSU has made a name for itself making some runs in March. After losing the Mountain West Championship Game to Utah State to miss the NCAA Tournament, the Aztecs decided a trip to the NIT was not worth it. Bettors got this one right, with 65% of the money on SDSU to miss the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech had no chance at the NCAA Tournament, losing in the first-round of the ACC Tournament to finish 19-13. The Hokies, however, were the first team to decline a bid to the 2026 NIT.
Florida State
FSU had a tail of two seasons. The Seminoles were awful to begin the year, but settled in late and finished really strong. FSU probably would’ve had a real shot to win the NIT, but declined the bid.
Belmont
Belmont has to be completely letdown, with the goal to make the big dance. The MVC regular season champion was upset in the conference tournament and the head coach is off to Kansas State. What could have been a chance to be Cinderella in March Madness, Belmont wound up turning down an NIT bid.
