The men’s NCAA Bracket during March Madness 2026 has served us some thrilling matchups. Now, four teams remain in the running to be crowned the National Champion in men’s college basketball.

UConn will play Illinois in the first matchup, with Michigan facing Arizona in the following semi-final. With the Final Four field set, the NCAA has just revealed the 11 officials who will be tasked with ensuring a fair fight.

Which Referees Have Been Selected for the 2026 Final Four?

The NCAA announced its list of 11 referees who will be officiating the National Championship’s Final Four. While there is no specific mention of assignments, the following officials will be part of the Final Four matchups:

• • Jeff Anderson
  • James Breeding
  • Lee Cassell
  • Ron Groover
  • Keith Kimble
  • Kipp Kissinger
  • Greg Nixon
  • Marques Pettigrew
  • Doug Shows
  • Doug Sirmons
  • Paul Szelc

How Does the NCAA Select Final Four Referees?

The NCAA undertakes a multi-stage, thorough process to select the final list of referees for the Final Four. The process evaluates the officials’ regular-season games and early-tournament performances, accounting for every detail.

Chris Rastatter, the National Coordinator of Officiating, submits a list of referee recommendations for the Final Four. The NCAA men’s basketball Committee then rates the names on the list and selects the highest-rated officials for the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and ultimately, the Final Four of the Tournament.

The committee considers all these key parameters, such as on-court athleticism, conversations with players and staff of the teams during the game, handling game rule violations, and making the right calls, when selecting referees.

Which Referees Are Assigned to Each Final Four Game?

Currently, the NCAA has not yet assigned officials to specific games. Usually, a three-person crew from the pool will be selected on the day of the game, with one key official and the two remaining names acting as standbys.

Are There Any Notable Omissions or Controversies?

Roger Ayers, a highly experienced referee, is a surprising omission.

Ayers was part of the Elite Eight matchup between UConn and Duke, where the former scripted an upset with a buzzer-beating 35-foot shot. However, the aftermath of the shot also marred the game, as a viral clip showed UConn head coach Dan Hurley almost butting heads with Ayers.

The experienced official did not hand Hurley a technical foul for the altercation, which surprised several experts and fans. Later on, ESPN’s Seth Greenberg quoted Ayers, who described the interaction as ‘absolutely nothing.’