When the NCAA Men’s Final Four returns to downtown Indianapolis in 2026, the spotlight won’t stop at the basketball court.

Co-hosted by Butler University and the NCAA, the 2026 Final Four Analytics Challenge represents the next evolution of a competition originally launched as the Crossroads Classic Analytics Challenge. What began as a regional collaboration has grown into a statewide opportunity—one that mirrors Indianapolis’s role as a national hub for both basketball and innovation.

“This Challenge is about meeting students where learning becomes real,” said Jason Davidson, assistant professor in the Lacy School of Business and one of the competition’s academic architects. “They’re not working on hypothetical problems—they’re engaging directly with NCAA data, deadlines, and expectations, all while the Final Four is happening just a few miles from campus.”

Originally launched as a collaboration with IU, Purdue, Notre Dame, and Butler , the competition has grown steadily in scale and ambition since its debut as the Crossroads Classic Analytics Challenge. In 2026, it takes on a new name and a much larger footprint, reflecting both its statewide reach and its alignment with the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis.

The Challenge emphasizes collaboration, analytical rigor, and professional communication—skills that translate well beyond sports. Past participants have cited networking opportunities, career exploration, and hands-on problem-solving as defining aspects of the experience.

For Butler, the Challenge reflects a broader commitment to experiential learning that connects the classroom to the city—and the city to the world.

“Indianapolis is synonymous with college basketball, and Butler sits in the middle of the action,” said Craig Caldwell, Dean of the Lacy School of Business. “Co-hosting the Final Four Analytics Challenge gives students a front-row seat to how data drives strategy at a national scale, while reinforcing Butler’s role as a leader in applied, outcomes-focused education.”

New for 2026, the competition expands eligibility to all NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions in Indiana, opening the door for more undergraduate and graduate students than ever before to participate. Teams will compete across three rounds, applying predictive modeling, visualization, and business storytelling skills to solve real-world challenges provided by the NCAA.

The experience begins with a Tip-Off Event on February 2, 2026, hosted at the NCAA Hall of Champions in downtown Indianapolis, where students will receive the case, connect with peers, and gain insight into how analytics shapes decision-making at the highest levels of sport. Finalists will compete in person at the Indiana Convention Center on April 6, 2026, just ahead of the Men’s National Championship game, to present their work.

Across graduate, undergraduate, and experiential divisions, teams will compete for cash prizes and recognition—while gaining exposure to the kind of applied analytics work increasingly demanded across industries.

Registration for the 2026 NCAA Final Four Analytics Challenge is now open, with teams of two to five students able to sign up through January 30, 2026. Participation is open to any student enrolled at an NCAA-member institution in Indiana, regardless of major or prior competition experience.

As the NCAA Men’s Final Four prepares to take over downtown Indianapolis this spring, Butler is helping ensure that innovation, insight, and student talent are part of the story—on campus, in the city, and on a national stage.

Learn more and register at analyticschallenge.butler.edu.