FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's bowling team will be the 5 Seed in the upcoming 2026 Men's Bowling National Championships at Royal Scot Lansing, Mich. The tournament takes place March 19-21.
In the NAIA's sixth year of hosting bowling championships, 2026 marks the debut of a new championship structure, highlighted by the Mega Match format in the winner's bracket. The 12-team field is split into two sections - the Blue Bracket (seeds 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12) and the Red Bracket (seeds 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11) - with each operating as a double-elimination bracket.
Within each section, teams compete through a winner's bracket using the Mega Match format and an elimination bracket utilizing a Best-of-7 Baker format, ultimately producing two finalists for the national championship match.
The Mega Match introduces a dynamic, multi-stage competition structure. Each match consists of up to three sets: a traditional team game, a five-game Baker total pinfall set, and, if necessary, a Best-of-7 Baker showdown to decide the winner. Meanwhile, elimination bracket matches will rely entirely on the fast-paced Best-of-7 Baker format, placing a premium on consistency and depth. The top four seeds in each bracket receive a first-round bye, and no team will compete in more than three Mega Matches in a single day.
Coverage of the championship also expands in 2026, with more ways than ever for fans to follow the action. Live lane coverage will be available on BowlTV at
https://www.bowltv.com/collegiate/collegiate-ch-1, while full broadcasts can be streamed via Urban Edge Network (
https://urbanedgenetwork.net/?school=naia-championships) or the NAIA Network at
www.naianetwork.com.
Fans can also follow the championship through live scoring (link coming soon!) and through the official bracket (
Men's), updated throughout the championship.
| Blue Bracket |
Red Bracket |
| ● #1 Mount Mercy (Iowa) |
● #2 Lawrence Tech (Mich.) |
| ● #4 Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.) |
● #3 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) |
| ● #5 Indiana Tech |
● #6 Marian (Ind.) |
| ● #8 Aquinas (Mich.) |
● #7 St. Francis (Ill.) |
| ● #9 Spring Arbor (Mich.) |
● #10 Saint Xavier (Ill.) |
| ● #12 Ottawa (Kan.) |
● #11 Cumberland (Tenn.) |
Thursday, March 19
| Start Time (Lanes) |
Matchup |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 53-54) |
● Game 1 - #8 Aquinas (Mich.) vs. #9 Spring Arbor (Mich.) |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 49-50) |
● Game 2 - #5 Indiana Tech vs. #12 Ottawa (Kan.) |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 41-42) |
● Game 1 - #6 Marian (Ind.) vs. #11 Cumberland (Tenn.) |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 45-46) |
● Game 2 - #7 St. Francis (Ill.) vs. #10 Saint Xavier (Ill.) |
| 1:30 p.m. (Lanes 51-52) |
● Game 3 - #1 Mount Mercy (Iowa) vs. #8/#9 Winner |
| 1:30 p.m. (Lanes 55-56) |
● Game 4 - #4 Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.) vs. #5/#12 Winner |
| 1:30 p.m. (Lanes 43-44) |
● Game 3 - #3 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) vs. #6/#11 Winner |
| 1:30 p.m. (Lanes 39-40) |
● Game 4 - #2 Lawrence Tech (Mich.) vs. #7/#10 Winner |
Friday, March 20
| Start Time (Lanes) |
Matchup |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 41-42) |
● Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4 |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 45-46) |
● Game 6 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3 |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 53-54) |
● Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4 |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 49-50) |
● Game 6 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3 |
| 10:30 a.m. (Lanes 39-40) |
● Game 7 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 |
| 10:30 a.m. (Lanes 53-54) |
● Game 8 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 |
| 10:30 a.m. (Lanes 57-58) |
● Game 7 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 |
| 10:30 a.m. (Lanes 45-46) |
● Game 8 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 |
| 1:30 p.m. (Lanes 43-44) |
● Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 |
| 1:30 p.m. (Lanes 51-52) |
● Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 |
| 4:00 p.m. (Lanes 53-54) |
● Game 10 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9 |
| 4:00 p.m. (Lanes 55-56) |
● Game 10 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9 |
Saturday, March 21
| Start Time (Lanes) |
Matchup |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 53-54) |
● Game 11 If Necessary |
| 8:30 a.m. (Lanes 55-56) |
● Game 11 If Necessary |
| 11:00 a.m. (Lanes 51-52) |
National Championship (● Bracket Winner vs. ● Bracket Winner) |
