Current holder · 18th reign
Michigan
Took the belt from Arizona, 91–73, on April 4, 2026. Then won the 2026 national title with it. Next defense Mon, Nov 2.
178Days held
1Defense
18Reigns all-time
Chain of custody
All 743 reigns →- MichiganBeat Arizona 91–73Apr 4, 2026 –Holding
- ArizonaBeat Houston 79–74Mar 14 – Apr 4, 202621 days · 4 def.
- HoustonBeat Baylor 77–64Mar 4 – Mar 14, 202610 days · 3 def.
- BaylorBeat UCF 87–86Feb 28 – Mar 4, 20264 days · 0 def.
- UCFBeat BYU 97–84Feb 24 – Feb 28, 20264 days · 0 def.
- BYUBeat Iowa State 79–69Feb 21 – Feb 24, 20263 days · 0 def.
How fast it moves
Thirty-plus games a year. The belt rarely sits still.
Football's belt can sit with one team for a season. In hoops, a Tuesday road trip in January can end a reign. In 2025–26 it changed hands 9 times.
Title changes per month, 2025–26
March
The belt versus the bracket
If the holder makes the NCAA tournament, the belt is guaranteed to finish with the national champion: whoever takes it keeps playing until someone knocks them out, and only the champion is never knocked out. If the holder misses the field, the belt can spend March at the NIT.
Every March since 1950 →Entered March 2026 with itArizona
Lost it inFinal Four
Hands in the tournament1
Crowned in AprilMichigan
Most reigns
- 1. Duke28
- 2. North Carolina24
- 3. Kentucky23
Most defenses in one reign
- 1. UCLA, 1970–7186 def.
- 2. UNLV, 1989–9034 def.
- 3. Indiana, 1975–7631 def.
Sister belt · football
Notre Dame holds the football belt
At North Carolina, Sat Oct 3. On collegefootballbelt.com →