March Madness bracket, seeding, predictions, snubs for 2026 NCAA Tournament

The wait is over. We know the 68 teams slotted into the Men's NCAA Tournament bracket soon.

Who got in, and who was left out? We found out when the committee announced the field on Selection Sunday.

Here's everything you need to know about the bracket, including the snubs, the upset picks, who was a winner and loser on Selection Sunday?

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

March Madness predictions: Final Four picks

USA TODAY Sports' experts have made their picks for the 2026 Final Four. Will it be all chalk like last year? Take a look.

March Madness upset picks

Who are you going out on a limb with?

Here are six teams worth keeping an eye on when filing out your bracket.

NCAA Tournament snubs. Which team saw their bubble burst?

Amid the celebration for 68 schools playing in the NCAA Tournament, there is heartbreak for those that fell just short of being selected to the bracket. Our list of five biggest snubs from the committee beings which Oklahoma, which staged a furious rally at the end of the season with eight wins in 11 games and nearly took down Arkansas in the SEC quarterfinals. That loss ultimately sealed their fate as the last team out. Mountain West schools San Diego State and New Mexico were among those missing out.

Florida faces tough path as top seed in South Region

This is the oddest region for the committee. Florida was maybe playing the best basketball in the country before falling to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament and may potentially play against an outstanding Houston team with tournament pedigree in Houston.

Another oddity of note. No. 6 seed North Carolina gets to play in Greenville, South Carolina with a potential second-round matchup against No. 3 Illinois looming. The high-scoring Illini are capable of going to the Final Four if it can avoid closes losses. It's last four have come in overtime and likely knocked them off the No. 2 line.

Vanderbilt, unlike Purdue getting the benefit of a strong run in the Big Ten tournament, managed only a No. 5 seed after its strong showing in the SEC tournament. Nebraska, the No. 4 seed, still have never won a tournament game but should get past Troy.

Tampa, Fla.

• No. 1 Florida (26-7) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh
• No. 8 Clemson (24-10) vs. No. 9 Iowa (21-12)

Oklahoma City

• No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese State (28-5)
• No. 4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. No. 13 Troy (22-11)

Greenville, S.C.

• No. 6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth (27-7)
• No. 3 Illinois (24-8) vs. No. 14 Penn (18-11)

Oklahoma City

• No. 7 Saint Mary's (27-5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (21-11)
• No. 2 Houston (28-6) vs. No. 15 Idaho (21-14)

Michigan tops the Midwest Region after losing in Big Ten tournament

It's hard to argue against Michigan being the class of the region even with the loss to Purdue in the Big Ten title game. The Wolverines are the best hope of the conference finally winning its first national championship since 2000.

Iowa State and Virginia are two teams worth watching. Both have lineups capable of making a postseason run but maybe not enough size or depth to handle Michigan. Alabama has the potential to make a run but need more consistency. Texas Tech slipped to a No. 5 seed after the loss of JT Toppin that makes a deep run unlikely.

One-loss Miami (Ohio) barely scrapes into the field and will play near home in Dayton against SMU, which was another team struggling down the stretch. The play-in games are set likely leaving Oklahoma, Auburn and San Diego State among the teams stay at home.

Buffalo, N.Y.

• No. 1 Michigan (31-3) vs. No. 16 Maryland-Baltimore County/Howard
• No. 8 Georgia (22-10) vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (28-5)

Tampa, Fla.

• No. 5 Texas Tech (22-10) vs. No. 12 Akron (29-5)
• No. 4 Alabama (23-9) vs. No. 13 Hofstra (24-10)

Philadelphia

• No. 6 Tennessee (22-11) vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU
• No. 3 Virginia (29-5) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-11)

St. Louis

• No. 7 Kentucky (21-13) vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (26-8)
• No. 2 Iowa State (27-7) vs. No. 15 Tennessee State (23-9)

Arizona earns the No. 1 seed in the West Region

Arizona dominated the Big 12 in the regular season and won the conference tournament. The Wildcats will be prohibitive favorites. No. 2 seed Purdue won four games in the Big Ten tournament but have been inconsistent before March. Gonzaga as a No. 3 will be a threat, though the Bulldogs haven't been tested outside the West Coast Conference in a couple months.

Missouri was a possible play-in game participant but got a No. 10 seed on the strength of wins against Florida and Vanderbilt. North Carolina and Texas both stumbled late and will have to go to Dayton. The Tigers will also play at home in St. Louis - nice benefit for a double-digit seed.

Utah State looks to be underseeded as a No. 9. The Aggies could have been a Sweet 16 threat with a better seed. Arkansas and standout guard Darius Acuff might be the toughest obstacle for Arizona in its bid to return to the Final Four after a 25-year absence.

San Diego

• No. 1 Arizona (32-2) vs. No. 16 Long Island (24-10)
• No. 8 Villanova (24-8) vs. No. 9 Utah State (28-6)

Portland, Ore.

• No. 5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. No. 12 High Point (30-4)
• No. 4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. No. 13 Hawaii (24-8)

Portland, Ore.

• No. 6 Brigham Young (23-11) vs. No. 11 Texas/North Carolina State
• No. 3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (21-13)

St. Louis

• No. 7 Miami (Fla.) (25-8) vs. No. 10 Missouri (20-12)
• No. 2 Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13)

Duke as the top overall seed leads the East Region

The regional will finish in Washington, D.C. - a familiar location for Duke. The two powerhouses of the Big East but get to stay in their region but are stuck with the No. 1 overall seed. The No. 5 spot for the Red Storm seems a bit low given they won the regular season and conference title.

Michigan State and Duke have a long tournament history and could meet in the Elite Eight. Kansas is an up-and-down team that could win the region or go out in the first round. A couple of surprise teams that could emerge are UCLA, which is playing its best basketball entering the tournament, and Louisville if freshman Mikel Brown carry the Cardinals.

Greenville, S.C

• No. 1 Duke (32-2) vs. No. 16 Siena (23-11)
• No. 8 Ohio State (21-12) vs. TCU (22-11)

San Diego

• No. 5 St. John's (28-6) vs. Northern Iowa (23-12)
• No. 4 Kansas (23-10) vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist (25-8)

Buffalo, N.Y.

• No. 6 Louisville (23-10) vs. No. 11 South Florida (25-8)
• No. 3 Michigan State (25-7) vs. No. 14 North Dakota State (27-7)

Philadelphia

• No. 7 UCLA (23-11) vs. No. 10 Central Florida (21-11)
• No, 2 Connecticut (29-5) vs. No. 15 Furman (22-12)

The NCAA Tournament bracket reveal is here

It's officially 6 p.m. on the East Coast and the men's basketball bracket is about to be unveiled by the committee. We will get long-awaited answers to the bubble picture and which teams will be the top seeds. The field of 68 is here.

Last four teams win March Madness automatic bids Sunday

South Florida (American), Purdue (Big Ten), Penn (Ivy) and VCU (Atlantic 10) were the final four teams to book automatic bids with wins on Sunday.

Who are Final Four favorites for NCAA Tournament?

Entering Selection Sunday, Michigan was the slight favorite to win the title at BetMGM with +325 odds (bet $100 to win $325), followed closely by Duke (+333), Arizona (+425) and Florida (+600).

Full list.

What time is Selection Sunday 2026?

The 68-team bracket for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be unveiled on 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15.

What channel is Selection Sunday on? 

• TV: CBS
• Streaming: Paramount+ | Fubo (free trial)

The 2026 NCAA tournament selection show will air on CBS, its traditional broadcast home. Streaming options include Paramount+, CBS's streaming site, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

How to stream Selection Sunday

• Stream: March Madness Live | Paramount+ | Fubo (free trial)

Streaming options for the NCAA tournament selection show include March Madness Live, which can be accessed through the NCAA's website, Paramount+ — which requires a subscription to access — and Fubo, the last of which carries CBS and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Bracket Challenge 2026: How to enter USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge with a chance to win $1 million 

The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back, with a $1 million grand prize for a perfect bracket. The Challenge is free to enter for those age 21 and over. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See official rules and get in the game.

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

2026 NCAA tournament automatic bids: Who has secured March Madness spots?

Each of the 31 conference tournament champions earns an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament, with the other 37 spots awarded to at-large participants by the tournament’s selection committee.

• American: South Florida
• America East: UMBC
• ACC: Duke
• ASUN: Queens (N.C.)
• Atlantic 10: Virginia Commonwealth
• Big 12: Arizona
• Big East: St. John's
• Big Sky: Idaho
• Big South: High Point
• Big Ten: Purdue
• Big West: Hawai'i
• CAA: Hofstra
• Conference USA: Kennesaw State
• Horizon League: Wright State
• Ivy League: Penn
• MAAC: Siena
• MAC: Akron
• MEAC: Howard
• Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa
• Mountain West: Utah State
• Northeast: Long Island
• Ohio Valley: Tennessee State
• Patriot League: Lehigh
• SEC: Arkansas
• SoCon: Furman
• Southland: McNeese
• SWAC: Prairie View A&M
• Summit League: North Dakota State
• Sun Belt: Troy
• WAC: California Baptist
• West Coast: Gonzaga

What day does March Madness start?

The NCAA tournament First Four on the men’s side begins on Tuesday, March 17 and continues on Wednesday, March 18. 

The four men’s games, which are held in Dayton, Ohio, feature the final four at-large selections to the field, as well as the four lowest-rated No. 16 seeds. The winner of each matchup advances to the first round. First-round games will take place on March 19 and March 20.

When is the first March Madness game? 

The first men’s game of the 2026 NCAA tournament will be on March 17 with the start of the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

March Madness 2026 game locations 

First- and second-round games will be held at eight cities spanning across four time zones. Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be held at regional sites before the final four teams converge on Indianapolis in early April.

Here’s a look at where 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament games will take place:

• First Four: Dayton, Ohio
• First/second round: Buffalo, N.Y.
• First/second round: Greenville, S.C.
• First/second round: Oklahoma City
• First/second round: Portland, Ore.
• First/second round: Tampa
• First/second round: Philadelphia
• First/second round: San Diego
• First/second round: St. Louis
• Sweet 16/Elite Eight: Houston
• Sweet 16/Elite Eight: San Jose, Calif.
• Sweet 16/Elite Eight: Chicago
• Sweet 16/Elite Eight: Washington, D.C.
• Final Four: Indianapolis
• National championship: Indianapolis

How to watch March Madness 2026

• TV: CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV
• Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live | Paramount+ | Sling TV | Fubo (free trial)

The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will air on CBS and the Turner family of networks, including TBS, TNT and truTV. Streaming options include NCAA March Madness Live, Paramount+, Sling TV – which carries the Turner family of networks – and Fubo, which carries CBS and offers a free trial.

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Check out the USA TODAY Survivor Pool game hub, where we're committed to bringing a little extra excitement to your March Madness experience. Showcase your knowledge of the best teams across college basketball by picking winners. Survive the longest to win cash and other prizes. Best of all, it's completely free to play. Register today for your chance to participate in the best survivor pool experience around!

How does Selection Sunday work? 

The 68-team NCAA tournament field is put together by the tournament selection committee on both the men’s and women’s side. The committee determines not only who gets in the field – with 31 automatic berths for conference tournament champions and 37 at-large bids – but what each squad is seeded and where their games are set to take place.

The final brackets are revealed on nationally televised shows, with the men’s selection show airing on CBS and the women’s selection show taking place on ESPN.

How many teams make March Madness? 

There are 68 teams that make both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournament. The final four at-large teams, as well as the four lowest-rated No. 16 seeds, will take part in the First Four.

Who plays in March Madness?

The 68-team tournament on both the men’s and women’s side is made up of 31 conference champions, who earn an automatic bid to March Madness by winning their league tournament, as well as 37 at-large teams that are picked by the NCAA tournament selection committee.

How are March Madness bids determined?

Thirty-one of the 68 spots in the NCAA tournament field are automatic bids earned by teams that win their conference tournament.

Things get a little thornier when it comes to the final 37 at-large spots, which are determined by the NCAA tournament selection committee. A team’s worthiness to be one of those 37 selections is determined by a variety of metrics, including a team’s record, its marquee wins and the strength of its schedule.

There’s no set of statistics more important than the NCAA’s NET rankings, which college sports’ governing body devised and deployed ahead of the 2018-19 season, replacing the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). Most notably, a team’s games are divided into four quadrants, which are determined by the quality of an opponent and where the game was played (whether at home, on the road or at a neutral site). Here’s a closer look at how the quadrants work, with the listed numbers reflecting an opponent’s ranking:

• Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75 
• Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135 
• Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240 
• Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353

How are March Madness seeds determined? 

The NCAA tournament selection committee seeds teams one through 68, with squads getting placed into groups of four to determine their seed. Teams ranked from one through four, for example, are No. 1 seeds, teams five through eight are No. 2 seeds and so on.

A team’s ranking is based on a variety of different factors — its overall record, its number of Quad One wins, its strength of schedule and how many, if any, Quad Three or Quad Four losses it has. Since the NET rankings were first employed during the 2018-19 season, the committee has prioritized Quad One wins over perhaps any other measurement when assessing seeds.

How is it determined where teams play in March Madness?

Once the 68 teams are selected and seeded for the NCAA tournament, the selection committee has to sort out which of the predetermined locations in the country each squad will play. 

The event’s highest seeds, particularly the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, will typically get games close to the school’s campus for the first and second rounds. The No. 1 seeds then get placed in a region for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight that makes the most geographic sense, though that doesn’t always apply to the third- and fourth-ranked No. 1 seeds.

There are competitive considerations that come into play, as well. When the selection committee ranks the tournament’s 68 teams, it attempts to bracket the team in a snake order, meaning that the No. 5 overall team — which is the best of the No. 2 seeds — ends up in the same region as the No. 4 overall team (the lowest-rated No. 1 seed). There are restrictions, though, such as:

• First four teams from the same conference must be in different regions if they are a Nos. 1-4 seed. 
• Teams from the same conference cannot meet before a regional final if they played each other three times during the regular season and conference tournament. 
• Teams from the same conference cannot meet before a regional semifinal if they played each other two times during the regular season and conference tournament. 
• Teams from the same conference cannot meet before the second round if they played each other once during the regular season and conference tournament.