The UCLA Bruins are the 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball national champions, defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-70 in the title game on April 6, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The victory marks UCLA's 12th national championship in men's basketball, but its first since 1995, ending a 31-year drought.
Head coach Mick Cronin, in his seventh season at UCLA, led the team to the championship. The Bruins' roster featured a key mix of veteran leadership and impactful transfers, including guard Dylan Andrews and forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who played significant roles throughout the tournament run.
UCLA's path to the title included victories over Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, and Duke in the Final Four. The championship win over Purdue, led by star center Zach Edey, was a tightly contested game where UCLA's defense and clutch free-throw shooting in the final minutes secured the victory.
