Miami, Fla., February, 25 2026 - UTR Sports is excited to feature the UTR Sports College Championship during the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. The prestigious college tournament will take place from March 13-15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and feature four men’s tennis programs: Arizona State University, Baylor University, Pepperdine University, and University of Memphis.
The UTR Sports College Championship is one of a number of initiatives created by UTR Sports to innovate and elevate college tennis. UTR Sports, a global leader in tennis, has helped college programs generate millions of dollars each year through innovative events and propelled student-athletes everywhere to experience life-changing moments on the court.
The 2026 Universal Tennis Foundation Hurd Award winners will be unveiled on March 6 during the BNP Paribas Open, with the Tennis Channel airing a special segment on them on March 8. Made possible by a generous gift from the Hurd family, the Hurd Awards are $100,000 grants given to one male and one female American collegiate player every year to assist in their transition to professional tennis. Past recipients include Colton Smith, Mary Stoiana, Ethan Quinn, Peyton Stearns, Christopher Eubanks, Danielle Collins, and Mackenzie McDonald.
In addition, two $40,000 grants will be awarded to Hurd Award finalists, following the 2025 selections of Amelia Honer and Eliot Spizzirri, who recently challenged Jannik Sinner in the third round of the 2026 Australian Open.
"We are thrilled to again host these incredible collegiate teams and honor our 2026 Hurd Award champions and finalists at one of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments,” said Mark Leschly, Chairman and CEO of UTR Sports. "These initiatives show once more how committed UTR Sports remains to elevating college tennis by providing student-athletes exceptional opportunities on a global stage.”
The 2026 edition of the UTR Sports College Championship will showcase the best of college tennis to the BNP Paribas Open fans while offering a unique opportunity for collegiate athletes to compete on the same stage as the world's best professionals. Tournament semifinals will be held March 13 and 14 with the third-place and finals matches scheduled for March 15.
“We’re honored to return to the UTR Sports College Championship at the BNP Paribas Open. UTR Sports does so much to transform college tennis, and we’re pumped to have another opportunity to take home a title at a true world-class event,” said Matt Hill, Arizona State University men’s tennis head coach.
The Sun Devils are eying their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this year, while Pepperdine and Baylor both fell just one match short of reaching the third round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Memphis has started the 2026 season strong behind two nationally-ranked doubles teams.
Fans attending the BNP Paribas Open, scheduled from March 1-15, 2026, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will have access to the UTR Sports College Championship matches and Hurd Awards presentation with a ticket to the respective day. Ticketing information and the full schedule of events are available on the BNP Paribas Open official website.
Learn more about UTR Sports' commitment to college tennis
- Start your journey with UTR Sports college tennis
- View and explore the 2026 College Team Rankings
- Register for UTR Sports college tennis camps near you
- Compete in UTR Sports College Circuits near you
- Read the Ultimate UTR Sports Guide to College Recruiting
- Learn how the UTR Rating works
- Ready to take your college tennis program to the next level?
- Play tennis near you with UTR Sports
- When is the UTR Sports NIT Championships?