March Madness Final Four predictions to win 2026 NCAA Tournament regions

Now that the Men's NCAA Tournament bracket has been unveiled, we know the paths teams must take to reach Indianapolis and the Final Four.

Will it be all chalk like last year when all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four?

Will there by a surprise like NC State in 2024 and Florida Atlantic in 2023?

USA TODAY Sports' staff makes their Final Four picks. Check them out below. And be sure to sign up for USA TODAY's Bracket Challenge and Survivor Poll to test your hoops knowledge.

NCAA Tournament predictions, 2026 Final Four picks

Blake Toppmeyer

• East: Michigan State
• South: Houston
• Midwest: Michigan
• West: Arizona

Duke is the No. 1 overall seed, but the Blue Devils got placed in a loaded region. That leaves Arizona as the frontrunner to win the national championship.

March Madness region breakdown: South | East | Midwest | West

Paul Myerberg

• East: St. John's
• South: Florida
• Midwest: Iowa State
• West: Arkansas

I’m banking on the Red Storm and Razorbacks carrying over their torrid finishes to the regular season. ISU has a relatively easy road to the Elite Eight, while Florida is the class of the South region and one of the safest bets to advance deep into March.

Matt Hayes

• East: Duke
• South: Florida
• Midwest: Iowa State
• West: Arizona

Duke is a no-brainer. The most complete team in the tournament, with the best player in the tournament — unless Kansas stud Darryn Peterson decides to get serious. Arizona doesn't have a true superstar, but the Wildcats are talented throughout their lineup. Florida is long, they defend better than just about anyone and they're hot. The Cyclones are top 20 in offensive and defensive efficiency, and just a tick below Florida and Duke as the best defensive teams in the tournament.

Jordan Mendoza

• East: Duke
• South: Florida
• Midwest: Michigan
• West: Arizona

The No. 1 overall seeds have proven to be in a class above the rest of the sport. It's not going to be a cakewalk, but they all make it to Indianapolis to back-to-back all-No. 1 seed Final Four.

Eddie Timanus

• East: Duke
• South: Florida
• Midwest: Michigan
• West: Arizona

Until last season, all four top regional seeds had made it all the way to the Final Four just once before. I was therefore going against precedent when I said it would happen. I’m hardly a trendsetter by predicting that history will repeat itself, but these still look like the best four teams, even if a couple of them didn’t quite win their conference tourneys this time.

Craig Meyer

• East: UConn
• South: Florida
• Midwest: Michigan
• West: Arkansas

Though it won the ACC tournament without him, Duke not having Caleb Foster limits its national title aspirations and I think a veteran team like UConn will be able to take advantage in the Elite Eight. Florida and Michigan have been as good as anyone in the sport the past three months and they'll keep it rolling into the Big Dance. As impressive as Arizona has been this season, I like Arkansas out of the West Region. Darius Acuff Jr. is arguably the best scorer in the country, and the Razorbacks have a long and athletic supporting cast that should cause most of their opponents fits.

March Madness 2026 schedule 

The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will transpire over the next three weeks, which will end with the Final Four and the national championship game in Indianapolis.

Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

• First Four: March 17-18
• First round: March 19-20
• Second round: March 21-22
• Sweet 16: March 26-27
• Elite Eight: March 28-29
• Final Four: April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
• National championship game: April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis