The 68-team field for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was finalized on Selection Sunday, delivering the expected favorites along with several surprises.
Duke was awarded the No. 1 overall seed and will lead the East Region. Purdue earned the No. 2 seed in the West after an 80-72 victory over Michigan to capture the Big Ten title; the Boilermakers had entered the conference tournament as the seventh seed.
St. John’s claimed the Big East crown but landed a No. 5 seed in the East. The selection committee identified the tournament’s final four teams as North Carolina State (20-13), Texas (18-14), SMU (20-13) and Miami of Ohio (31-1). The last four teams left out were Oklahoma (19-15), Auburn (17-16), San Diego State (22-11) and Indiana (18-14).
Sixty-eight teams will compete, including 31 automatic qualifiers from conference tournament winners and 37 at-large selections chosen by the committee. By conference, the allocation includes SEC 10, Big Ten 9, ACC 8, Big 12 8, Big East 3, WCC 3, Atlantic 10 2 and MAC 2.
First Four action is scheduled for March 17-18 in Dayton, Ohio. On Tuesday, Texas meets North Carolina State for the right to play BYU in the West Region, while
UMBC faces Howard for a Midwest Region No. 16 berth opposite Michigan. On Wednesday, Miami of Ohio — the final at-large team — plays SMU for an 11-seed in the Midwest, and Prairie View A&M meets Lehigh for a No. 16 slot that will draw Florida in the South.
East Region: 1. Duke (32-2); 16. Siena (23-11); 8. Ohio State (21-12); 9. TCU (22-11); 5. St. John’s (28-6); 12. Northern Iowa (23-12); 4. Kansas (23-10); 13. Cal Baptist (25-8); 6. Louisville (23-10); 11. South Florida (25-8); 3. Michigan State (25-7); 14. North Dakota State (27-7); 7. UCLA (23-11); 10. UCF (21-11); 2. UConn (29-5); 15. Furman (22-12).
Midwest Region: 1. Michigan (31-3); 16. UMBC or Howard; 8. Georgia (22-10); 9. St. Louis (28-5); 5. Texas Tech (22-10); 12. Akron (29-5); 4. Alabama (23-9); 13. Hofstra (24-10); 6. Tennessee (22-11); 11. Miami of Ohio or SMU; 3. Virginia (29-5); 14. Wright State (23-11); 7. Kentucky (21-13); 10. Santa Clara (26-8); 2. Iowa State (27-7); 15. Tennessee State (23-9).
South Region: 1. Florida (26-7); 16. Prairie View A&M or Lehigh; 8. Clemson (24-10); 9. Iowa (21-12); 5. Vanderbilt (26-8); 12. McNeese State (28-5); 4. Nebraska (26-6); 13. Troy (22-11); 6. North Carolina (24-8); 11. VCU (27-7); 3. Illinois (24-8); 14. Pennsylvania (18-11); 7. Saint Mary’s (27-5); 10. Texas A&M (21-11); 2. Houston (28-6); 15. Idaho (21-14).
West Region: 1. Arizona (32-2); 16. LIU (24-10); 8. Villanova (24-8); 9. Utah State (28-6); 5. Wisconsin (24-10); 12. High Point (30-4); 4. Arkansas (26-8); 13. Hawaii (24-8); 6. BYU (23-11); 11. Texas or N.C. State; 3. Gonzaga (30-3); 14. Kennesaw State (21-13); 7. Miami (25-8); 10. Missouri (20-12); 2. Purdue (27-8); 15. Queens (21-13).
Tournament play begins with the First Four in Dayton and will move through first- and second-round sites across the country. Regional rounds are set for Houston (South), San Jose (West), Chicago (Midwest) and Washington, D.C. (East). The Final Four is scheduled for April 4-6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Full printable brackets and live updates are available from tournament organizers and major sports outlets as teams prepare for the opening rounds.
