March Madness bracket predictions 2026: Final NCAA Tournament Field of 68 projections for Selection Sunday originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The magic of March Madness is here.
There is no better indication than Jaden Bradley's buzzer-beater, which gave Arizona a 82-80 victory against Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament semifinals Friday. The Wildcats remain one of our projected No. 1 seeds along with Duke, Michigan and defending national champion Florida heading into the final two days of conference tournament championships.
We will update our 2025-26 NCAA Tournament projections over the next two days, with a close eye on the Last Four In and First Four Out. There also promises to be some movement on the seed lines before the Selection Show.
SN AWARDS: All-America team | Boozer Player of the Year | Lloyd Coach of the Year
This year's Final Four is April 4-6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Who is in our latest Field of 68? A closer look:
+ – Clinched automatic NCAA tournament berth
* – Projected automatic bid
** – Last four in
NCAA tournament Field of 68 projections
No. 1 Seeds
*Duke (31-2, 17-1 ACC)
Resume: KenPom: 1, Net: 1. Sporting News Player of the Year Cameron Boozer had 24 points and 14 rebounds in a 73-61 victory against Clemson on Friday. Duke has 16 Quad 1 victories. The Blue Devils will play Virginia in the ACC championship game Saturday.
*Michigan (30-2, 19-1 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 2, Net 2. The Wolverines are shooting for a second Big Ten tournament championship under coach Dusty May heading into the semifinals against Wisconsin. Aday Mara had 17 points and seven rebounds in a 71-67 victory against rival Ohio State on Friday.
*Arizona (31-2, 16-2 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 3, Net 3. Arizona continued its eight-game winning streak with the thrilling 82-80 victory against Iowa State on Bradley's buzzer beater, and the No. 1 overall seed is still on the table heading into the Big 12 championship.
*Florida (26-6, 16-2 SEC)
Resume: KenPom: 4, Net: 4 .Florida stays on the No. 1 line after a 71-63 victory against Kentucky in the SEC quarterfinals. Alex Condon scored 22 points with 10 rebounds. The Gators have a 11-5 record against Quad 1 heading into Saturday's matchup against Vanderbilt.
No. 2 Seeds
*UConn (29-4, 17-3 Big East)
Resume: KenPom: 10, Net: 9. UConn defeated Georgetown 67-51 in the Big East semifinals, which keeps their hopes for a No. 1 seed alive. The Huskies get a rubber match with St. John's in the Big East championship. UConn can win the Big East tournament for the second time in three seasons.
Houston (28-5, 14-4 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom: 6, Net: 8. The Cougars could still work into the No. 1 seed conversation after a 69-47 victory against Kansas. Houston is 9-5 in Quad 1 and does not have a loss in Quads 2-4. The Big 12 tournament championship against Arizona is next.
Michigan State (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom: 9, Net: 11. The Spartans lost 88-84 to UCLA in a Big Ten quarterfinal upset on Friday, but Illinois and Nebraska also lost in the same round. Purdue could back-door into the No. 2 seed, but for now we will hold the Spartans on the No. 2 line.
Iowa State (27-6, 12-6 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom: 7, Net: 8. The Cyclones lost 82-80 to Arizona in heart-breaking fashion, but they still have a strong case for the No. 2 seed. Iowa State has 18 victories in Quads 1-2. Illinois has 12. It's a toss-up heading into Selection Sunday.
No. 3 Seeds
Illinois (24-8, 15-5 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom: 5, Net: 5. Will the Illini fall a line after a 91-88 overtime loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten quarterfinals? Illinois will make its sixth straight tournament appearance, but the Illini have only made it to the Sweet 16 once in that stretch under Brad Underwood.
Purdue (25-8, 13-7 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom: 8, Net: 10. The Boilermakers should stick on this line after beating Nebraska 72-58 in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Purdue has 15 victories between Quads 1-2, and Braden Smith has dished out 26 assists in two Big Ten tournament games.
Gonzaga (30-3, 16-2 West Coast)
Resume: KenPom: 11, Net: 6. Gonzaga hit the 30-win mark with a 79-68 victory against Santa Clara in the West Coast Conference championship Monday. The Bulldogs could be a No. 3 seed, but a Quad 3 loss to Portland could be a separator with a Big Ten or SEC school.
Nebraska (26-6, 15-5 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom: 12, Net: 12. The Huskers have a strong resume, but the 72-58 loss to Purdue marked a quick exit from the Big Ten tournament. Now, will Fred Hoiberg lead Nebraska to its first NCAA tournament victory in school history?
No. 4 seeds
Virginia (29-4, 15-3 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 20, Net 14. The Cavaliers have one loss since Jan. 27 – and that was a 77-51 loss at Duke on Feb. 28. Virginia blasted Miami 84-62 in the ACC semifinals on Friday. There is a chance to bump up to the No. 3 line.
Kansas (23-10, 12-6 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 18, Net 18. Houston routed Kansas 69-47 in the Big 12 semifinals on Friday. The Jayhawks still have a strong resume, but they have not advanced to the Sweet 16 under Bill Self since 2021-22.
Alabama (23-9, 13-5 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 15, Net 17. Ole Miss stunned the Crimson Tide 80-79 in the SEC quarterfinals, which might lead to a slip to the No. 5 line. Alabama has made it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years under coach Nate Oats.
St. John's (27-6, 18-2 Big East)
Resume: KenPom 21, Net 21. The Red Storm won the Big East for the second straight season and beat Seton Hall 78-68 on Friday. St. John's is still tough to seed with a 4-5 record against Quad 1and a Quad 3 loss, but a clean sweep of the Big East would keep them here.
No. 5 seeds
Vanderbilt (25-7, 11-7 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 13, Net 16. The Commodores beat Tennessee 75-68 behind 30 points from Duke Miles in the SEC quarterfinals, which gives Vanderbilt a 9-6 record against Quad 1. That could be enough to push the No. 4 line.
Arkansas (24-8, 13-5 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 16, Net 17. The Razorbacks have won four of their last five games heading into the SEC tournament under John Calipari. Darius Acuff (22.2 ppg.) sat out the regular-season finale against Missouri because of an ankle injury but had 37 in an SEC quarterfinal win against Oklahoma.
Texas Tech (22-10, 12-6 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 20, Net 20. The Red Raiders will head into the NCAA Tournament on a three-game losing streak after the loss to Iowa State on Thursday. Texas Tech does have an 8-8 record against Quad 1 – so what is the seeding balance without star player JT Toppin?
Wisconsin (24-9, 14-6 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 23, Net 26. Wisconsin rallied from a 15-point deficit in the Big Ten quarterfinals with a 91-88 victory against Illinois, which set up a Saturday matchup with Michigan. The Badgers have a 9-7 record against Quad 1 opponents.
No. 6 seeds
Tennessee (22-11, 11-7 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 14, Net 19. Nate Ament averaged 19.5 points in two SEC tournament games, but the Volunteers lost 75-68 to Vanderbilt on Friday. Tennessee is 11-11 in Quads 1-2, and that could mean a drop to this line.
BYU (23-11, 9-9 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 22, Net 23. Forward AJ Dybantsa (24.7 ppg.) has 20 or more points in nine straight games. He scored 26 points in the 73-66 loss to Houston on Thursday. The Cougars have seven Quad 1 wins and seven Quad 2 wins.
North Carolina (24-8, 12-6 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 30, Net 24. The Tar Heels will not have Caleb Wilson for the NCAA Tournament, and they lost 80-79 to Clemson. North Carolina is 6-8 against Quad 1 opponents under Hubert Davis, and the Tar Heels do not have a loss in Quads 2-4. The 71-68 victory against Duke on Feb. 7 also helps.
Louisville (23-10, 11-7 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 17, Net 14. Louisville could hang on this line on the strength of a 7-10 record against Quad 1 opponents despite a 78-73 loss to Miami in the ACC quarterfinals on Thursday. The Cardinals did not have a loss in Quads 2-4.
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No. 7 seeds
Kentucky (21-13, 10-8 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 28, Net 26. The Wildcats won two games in the SEC tournament before a 71-63 loss to Florida. The up-and-down season continues under second-year coach Mark Pope for Kentucky. Pope took Kentucky to the Sweet 16 last season.
Saint Mary's (27-5, 16-2 West Coast)
Resume: KenPom 23, Net 22. Saint Mary's lost 76-71 to Santa Clara in West Coast Conference tournament action on Monday. The Gaels still have nine wins in Quads 1-2 and should stick on this line as a result.
Miami, Fla. (25-8, 13-5 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 27, Net 30. The Hurricanes fell to 6-6 against Quad 1 opponents after the blowout loss to Virginia, which might make it more difficult to bump up to the No. 6 line. This line is a safer bet now.
UCLA (23-10, 13-7 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 28, Net 33. Mick Cronin helped turn UCLA's season around. The Bruins won six of their last seven games – a streak that continued with a 88-84 upset against Michigan State in the Big Ten quarterfinals on Friday.
No. 8 seeds
Clemson (24-10, 12-6 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 36, Net 34. The Tigers lost 73-61 to Duke in the ACC tournament semifinals. The Tigers could slip behind UCLA as a result, but Clemson does have a 7-6 record against Quad 1 opponents. It will be close.
*Utah State (27-6, 15-5 MWC)
Resume: KenPom 32, Net 29. The Aggies advanced to the Mountain West Conference championship with a 79-66 victory against Nevada. Utah State is all but guaranteed an at-large berth; which would mark its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Villanova (24-8, 13-5 Big East)
Resume: KenPom 33, Net 36. Villanova has a 2-6 record against Quad 1 opponents, and a 78-64 loss to Georgetown in the Big East tournament Thursday did not help. The Wildcats will be the third Big East team, but they drop a line.
Ohio State (21-12, 12-8 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 26, Net 31. We are going to give the Buckeyes the edge over Saint Louis and Georgia for the final No. 8 seed after a 71-67 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament. The Buckeyes do not have a loss outside Quads 1-2.
Rest of the field …
No. 9 seeds
Georgia (22-10, 8-8 SEC)
Resume: KenPom: 31, Net: 32.
*Saint Louis (28-4, 15-3 Atlantic 10)
Resume: KenPom 39, Net 29.
Iowa (21-12, 10-10 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 25, Net 25.
TCU (22-11, 11-7 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 43, Net 38.
No. 10 seeds
Texas A&M (21-11, 11-7 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 40, Net 43.
NC State (20-13, 10-8 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 34, Net 35.
Santa Clara (26-8, 15-3 West Coast)
Resume: KenPom 35, Net 40.
VCU (25-7, 15-3 Atlantic 10)
Resume: KenPom 47, Net 44.
No. 11 seeds
Miami, Ohio (31-1, 18-0 MAC)
Resume: KenPom: 90, Net: 54.
*South Florida (23-8, 15-3 American)
Resume: KenPom: 52, Net: 48.
**Missouri (20-12, 10-8 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 51, Net 58.
**UCF (21-11, 9-9 Big 12)
Resume: KenPom 54, Net 52.
**Texas (18-14, 9-9 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 37, Net 42.
**SMU (20-13, 8-10 ACC)
Resume: KenPom 42, Net 37.
No. 12 seeds
*Akron (28-5, 17-1 MAC)
Resume: KenPom: 64, Net: 54.
+McNeese (28-5, 19-3 Southland)
Resume: Net: 65, KenPom: 57.
*Yale (23-5, 11-3 Ivy)
Resume: KenPom: 81, Net: 66.
+Northern Iowa (23-12, 11-9 MVC)
Resume: KenPom 70, Net: 71.
No. 13 seeds
+High Point (30-4, 15-1 Big South)
Resume: KenPom: 92, Net: 74.
*Utah Valley (25-7, 12-4 WAC)
Resume: KenPom: 89, Net: 83.
+Hofstra (24-10, 12-6 CAA)
Resume: KenPom: 87, Net: 88.
*UC-Irvine (23-10, 15-5 Big West)
Resume: KenPom: 105, Net: 117.
No. 14 seeds
+North Dakota State (27-7, 14-2 Summit)
Resume: KenPom: 113, Net: 115.
+Wright State (23-11, 15-5 Horizon)
Resume: KenPom: 140, Net: 127.
+Troy (22-11, 12-6 Sun Belt)
Resume: KenPom: 143, Net: 125.
*Kennesaw State (20-13, 10-10 Conference USA)
Resume: KenPom: 166, Net: 175.
No. 15 seeds
+Tennessee State (23-9, 15-5)
Resume: KenPom: 187, Net: 174.
+Furman (22-12, 10-8 Southern)
Resume: KenPom: 189, Net: 187.
+Queens University (21-13, 13-5 Atlantic Sun)
Resume: KenPom: 182, Net: 190.
+Idaho (21-14, 9-9 Big Sky)
Resume: KenPom: 145, Net: 146.
No. 16 seeds
*UMBC (23-8, 14-2 America East)
Resume: KenPom: 294, Net: 201.
+Siena (23-11, 13-7 MAAC)
Resume: KenPom: 191, Net: 184.
**Howard (22-10, 11-3 MEAC)
Resume: KenPom: 205, Net: 202.
+**Long Island (24-10, 15-3 Northeast)
Resume: KenPom: 214, Net: 198.
*Southern (17-16, 11-7 SWAC)
Resume: KenPom: 312, Net: 311.
+**Lehigh (18-16, 11-7 Patriot)
Resume: KenPom: 284, Net: 276.
Bubble watch
San Diego State (22-10, 14-6 MWC)
Resume: KenPom 46, Net 46. San Diego State beat New Mexico 64-62 on Friday in a bubble game in the Mountain West Conference tournament semifinals. Aztecs can earn an automatic bid with a win over Utah State on Saturday.
Auburn (17-16, 7-11 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 38, Net 39. Will the committee let Auburn in? The Tigers are 4-13 against Quad 1 and have played 22 games against Quads 1-2. Auburn lost 72-62 to Tennessee in the SEC tournament. The Tigers would have the highest KePom/Net combination of any team left out.
Indiana (18-14, 9-11 Big Ten)
Resume: KenPom 45, Net 41. The Hoosiers lost to Northwestern 74-61 on Thursday, which might prevent the Big Ten from getting a 10th team in the field. Indiana will not be able to escape a 3-4 record in Quad 2.
New Mexico (23-10, 13-7 MWC)
Resume: KenPom 49, Net 45. New Mexico faces an uphill climb with Friday's loss to San Diego State.
Oklahoma (19-15, 7-11 SEC)
Resume: KenPom 45, Net 52. The Sooners lost a 82-79 thriller with Arkansas, which probably knocks Oklahoma out of tournament contention despite a late six-game win streak.