The NCAA men's basketball tournament's Selection Sunday is fast approaching, with a number of the 68 spots in the field already claimed.
Texas and SMU, on the other hand, seemed destined to wait until Sunday to learn their fates, as both are squarely on the bubble. Houston, Texas Tech, TCU, and, to a lesser extent, Texas A&M are in good shape and waiting to learn where they are headed.
Sam Houston State has its fate in its own hands, but must win the Conference USA tournament to keep playing. Here is a rundown of where Texas teams (and the University of New Mexico) stand less than a week before the dance begins.
When is Selection Sunday for March Madness 2026?
The NCAA selection show will be at 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 15. It will be shown on CBS. The women's selection show will be at 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 15.
Did Texas teams already make March Madness 2026?
No teams from Texas have won a conference tournament as of noon Friday MT, March 13. Sam Houston State in Conference USA, Prairie View A&M in the SWAC and UT Arlington in the WAC are still alive and must win their tournaments to make the NCAA.
Houston is still alive in the Big 12 tournament but is considered a lock for an at-large bid if the Cougars fail to win that tournament.
NCAA tournament locks
There are 37 at-large bids, with the last four of those going to teams that must participate in the First Four in Dayton Tuesday and Wednesday. The following projections are from Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi of ESPN.
Records are as of noon MT/1 p.m. CT on Friday, March 13.
UH Houston
Projected seed: No. 2. Conference: Big 12. Record: 27-5. USA Today Coaches Poll: 5. Status: In Friday's Big 12 semifinals as No. 2 seed.
Texas Tech
Projected seed: 4. Conference: Big 12. Record: 22-10. USA Today Coaches Poll: 14. Status: Out of Big 12 tournament.
TCU
Projected seed: 8. Conference: Big 12. Record: 22-10. Status: Out of Big 12 tournament.
Texas A&M basketball
Projected seed: 9. Conference: SEC. Record: 21-10. Status: Out of SEC tournament.
On the bubble for March Madness
Texas
Projected seed: 11 (last team in; projected First Four in Dayton). Conference: SEC. Record: 18-14. Status: Out of SEC tournament.
SMU
Projected seed: 11 (next-to-last team in; projected First Four in Dayton). Conference: ACC. Record: 20-13. Status: Out of Big ACC tournament.
New Mexico
Projected seed: Fourth team out. Conference: Mountain West. Record: 22-9. Status: In the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament on Friday.
Must win conference tournament
There are 31 conferences that receive automatic bids. The following Texas teams are not considered possibilities for at-large bids.
Sam Houston State
Conference: Conference USA. Projected seed: 13. Record: 22-10. Status: In Friday's CUSA semifinals as highest-seeded team remaining (No. 2).
Prairie View A&M
Conference: SWAC. Record: 16-17. Status: In Friday's SWAC semifinals as the lowest remaining seed (No. 8).
UT Arlington
Conference: WAC. Record: 18-13. Status: In Friday's semifinals as the lowest remaining seed (No. 4).
When is March Madness 2026?
March Madness began with conference tournaments in early March.
When is the First Four?
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament begins with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. There will be two games Tuesday, March 17 beginning at 4:40 p.m. MT/5:40 p.m. CT and two games Wednesday, March 18.
When is the NCAA men's basketball tournament?
The NCAA men's basketball tournament tips off with the First Four on March 17. There will be 16 games on March 19 and 16 games on March 20. The tournament lasts for three weeks, with games Thursday through Sunday.
The championship is Monday, April 6, in Indianapolis.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: March Madness Texas NCAA basketball tournament team tracker 2026