College Pickleball Tour Nationals Kicks Off in Peachtree Corners

The College Pickleball Tour Nationals has kicked off in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, featuring 64 university teams competing for the national title. This four-day tournament, which employs a knockout format, showcases a mix of experienced teams and emerging programs. With significant prize money and a growing number of participants, the event highlights the increasing popularity of pickleball at the collegiate level. As the tournament nears its conclusion, excitement builds around which team will emerge victorious. Stay tuned for thrilling matches and competitive spirit as the best in college pickleball vie for the championship.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 12, 2026, 23:49 IST

Exciting Tournament Launch

The College Pickleball Tour Nationals commenced on April 9 in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, featuring 64 university teams vying for the national championship title in 2026. This four-day event, concluding on April 12, utilizes a bracket-style format akin to March Madness, establishing a knockout system to identify the top collegiate team in the nation. With hundreds of athletes participating and growing interest in the college pickleball scene, this tournament has rapidly become a key event in the sport's calendar.

Each team consists of four players—two men and two women—competing in a series of matches that include men's doubles, women's doubles, and two mixed doubles contests, culminating in a four-match tie. To advance, teams must secure the majority of match victories. In cases of a 2-2 tie, a 'dreambreaker' is employed, a singles match played to 21 points with rally scoring, where players rotate every four rallies.

Among the favorites, Florida Atlantic University's red team entered with the highest combined DUPR rating of 21.937. Utah Tech closely follows with a rating of 21.641, while the defending champions, Texas, began their title defense with a rating of 20.161. Previous champions, including Utah Tech (2024) and Virginia (2023), add depth to the competition, alongside the University of North Carolina, who won in 2022 and returned with a formidable team.

The tournament also features second and third team divisions to promote broader participation. The singles draw has attracted attention as well, with players categorized by their DUPR ratings, including several competitors rated above 5.0 competing for the title.

Prize money serves as an additional incentive, with the main bracket winner receiving $15,000, while the runner-up will earn $5,000. Teams finishing in third and fourth place will each take home $2,500. The second and third brackets offer prizes of $3,000 and $1,000 respectively, and the singles champion will receive $500. Overall, more than $40,000 is up for grabs across various categories.

Now in its fifth year, the College Pickleball Tour Nationals has experienced significant growth, expanding from approximately 150 participants in its initial years to nearly 800 players in 2026. This surge reflects the increasing popularity of the sport at the collegiate level, with more institutions establishing structured programs and competitive teams.

As the tournament approaches its final day, all eyes are on which of the 64 teams will claim the national title. With a blend of seasoned contenders and emerging programs, the concluding rounds promise to deliver thrilling matches and a memorable finish to one of college pickleball's premier events.