The College Pickleball Tour Nationals got underway in Peachtree Corners, United States, on April 9, bringing together 64 university teams competing for the 2026 national title. The four-day tournament, which concludes on April 12, has adopted a bracket-style format similar to March championships, creating a knockout pathway to determine the top collegiate side in the country. With hundreds of players involved and increasing attention on the college circuit, the event has quickly become one of the most competitive fixtures in the sport’s calendar.
The main draw follows a four-player team format, with two men and two women representing each school. Matches include men’s doubles, women’s doubles and two mixed doubles contests, making it a four-match tie. Teams must win the majority of matches to progress. In the event of a 2-2 tie, the contest is decided by a ‘dreambreaker’, a singles format played to 21 points using rally scoring, where players rotate every four rallies.
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Among the contenders, Florida Atlantic University’s red team entered the tournament with the highest combined DUPR rating of 21.937 across its four players. Utah Tech followed closely with 21.641, while defending champions Texas began their title defense with a combined rating of 20.161. Previous winners have added further depth to the field, with Utah Tech having won in 2024 and Virginia claiming the title in 2023. The University of North Carolina, champions in 2022, also returned with a strong line-up.
The competition extended beyond the main bracket, with second and third team divisions included to encourage wider participation. The singles draw has also drawn interest, featuring players grouped by DUPR ratings, with several competitors rated above 5.0 competing for the title.
Prize money has added further incentive. The winning team in the main bracket will receive $15,000, while second place will earn $5,000. Third and fourth place teams will take home $2,500 each. The second and third brackets carry prizes of $3,000 and $1,000 respectively, while the singles champion will receive $500. In total, more than $40,000 is being distributed across categories.
Now in its fifth year, the College Pickleball Tour Nationals has seen rapid growth, expanding from around 150 participants in its early editions to nearly 800 players in 2026. The rise reflects the sport’s growing presence at the collegiate level, with more institutions building structured programs and competitive teams.
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As the tournament heads into its final day, the focus remains on which of the 64 teams will emerge with the national title. With a mix of experienced contenders and emerging programs in the field, the closing rounds are expected to deliver tight contests and a fitting end to one of college pickleball’s biggest events.
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(Written by Evince Das)
