beyond the back page Michigan has a long-sought title in its sights, but UConn’s Dan Hurley has a bigger prize within reach By Howie Kussoy Published April 6, 2026, 7:40 a.m. ET UConn coach Dan Hurley celebrates the Huskies' win over Illinois at the Final Four on April 4, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect There are few teams in college basketball history as famous as the Fab Five. There have been few shots in the NCAA Tournament as incredible as Trey Burke’s 30-footer against No. 1 Kansas, few stretches as unexpectedly exhilarating as Spike Albrecht’s national title game explosion off the bench, few Final Four performances as dominant as Mo Wagner’s in 2018.
But each of those unforgettable seasons at Michigan ended with a loss in the title game, leaving the program still searching for its first national championship since winning its only championship over Seton Hall in 1989.
But history may have more to say if the Huskies pull the biggest title game upset since UConn’s stunner over Duke in 1999.
That is expected to change on Monday, when No. 1 Michigan (36-3) enters as a 6.5-point favorite against No. 2 UConn (34-5) in the national title game. A win by the Wolverines would also end the 26-year title drought of the Big Ten, whose teams have lost eight straight national championship games.
