The NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed, and it's time for March Madness to begin.
Millions of brackets will be filled out across the country over the next few days leading up to the tournament. The Star Press is giving you one from sports writer Cade Hampton, who tends to dominate his friends and family in bracket pools year in and year out. If you follow his picks, you could do the same!
His biggest upset picks include a pair of 12-seeds upsetting 5-seeds in the first round, including Akron giving the MAC it's first NCAA Tournament win since 2021. He also has Delta High School alum Matt Painter coaching Purdue all the way to the national championship for the second time in the last three years, but he does not predict the Boilermakers will win that final game. Overall, Hampton's bracket is quite chalky, with 14 of his Sweet 16 teams seeded in the top-four of their respective regions.
Think you can do better? Be sure to join the USA Today Bracket Challenge and Survivor Pool, sponsored by Autozone, for a chance to win $40,000 in prizes and even $1 million if you fill out the perfect bracket.
Here's our "expert" prediction for the 2026 March Madness bracket:
Men's March Madness bracket predictions
The Star Press picks what we think will happen in the first round
East
- No. 1 Duke over No. 16 Siena
- No. 9 TCU over No. 8 Ohio State
- No. 5 St. John's over No. 12 Northern Iowa
- No. 4 Kansas over No. 13 Cal Baptist
- No. 11 South Florida over No. 6 Louisville
- No. 3 Michigan State over No. 14 North Dakota State
- No. 7 UCLA over No. 10 UCF
- No. 2 UConn over No. 15 Furman
South
- No. 1 Florida over No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh
- No. 9 Iowa over No. 8 Clemson
- No. 5 Vanderbilt over No. 12 McNeese State
- No. 4 Nebraska over No. 13 Troy
- No. 6 North Carolina over No. 11 VCU
- No. 3 Illinois over No. 14 Penn
- No. 10 Texas A&M over No. 7 St. Mary's
- No. 2 Houston over No. 15 Idaho
West
- No. 1 Arizona over No. 16 LIU
- No. 9 Utah State over No. 8 Villanova
- No. 12 High Point over No. 5 Wisconsin
- No. 4 Arkansas over No. 13 Hawaii
- No. 6 BYU over No. 11 Texas/NC State
- No. 3 Gonzaga over No. 14 Kennesaw State
- No. 7 Miami (FL) over No. 10 Missouri
- No. 2 Purdue over No. 15 Queens
Midwest
- No. 1 Michigan over No. 16 UMBC/Howard
- No. 8 Georgia over No. 9 St. Louis
- No. 12 Akron over No. 5 Texas Tech
- No. 4 Alabama over No. 13 Hofstra
- No. 6 Tennessee over No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU
- No. 3 Virginia over No. 14 Wright State
- No. 10 Santa Clara over No. 7 Kentucky
- No. 2 Iowa State over No. 15 Tennessee State
The Star Press picks what we think will happen in the second round
East
- No.1 Duke over No. 9 TCU
- No. 5 St. John's over No. 4 Kansas
- No. 3 Michigan State over No. 11 South Florida
- No. 2 UConn over No. 7 UCLA
South
- No. 1 Florida over No. 9 Iowa
- No. 4 Nebraska over No. 5 Vanderbilt
- No. 3 Illinois over No. 6 North Carolina
- No. 2 Houston over No. 10 Texas A&M
West
- No. 1 Arizona over No. 9 Utah State
- No. 4 Arkansas over No. 12 High Point
- No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Gonzaga
- No. 2 Purdue over No. 7 Miami (FL)
Midwest
- No. 1 Michigan over No. 8 Georgia
- No. 4 Alabama over No. 12 Akron
- No. 3 Virginia over No. 6 Tennessee
- No. 2 Iowa State over No. 10 Santa Clara
March Madness Sweet 16 predictions
East
- No. 1 Duke over No. 5 St. John's
- No. 3 Michigan State over No. 2 UConn
South
- No. 1 Florida over No. 4 Nebraska
- No. 2 Houston over No. 3 Illinois
West
- No. 1 Arizona over No. 4 Arkansas
- No. 2 Purdue over No. 6 BYU
Midwest
- No. 1 Michigan over No. 4 Alabama
- No. 2 Iowa State over No. 3 Virginia
March Madness Elite 8 predictions
East
- No. 1 Duke over No. 3 Michigan State
South
- No. 2 Houston over No. 1 Florida
West
- No. 2 Purdue over No. 1 Arizona
Midwest
- No. 1 Michigan over No. 3 Virginia
March Madness Final Four predictions
- No. 1 Duke over No. 2 Houston
- No. 2 Purdue over No. 1 Michigan
National champion prediction
- No. 1 Duke over No. 2 Purdue
Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
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This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: The Star Press March Madness bracket predictions, Final Four picks