The bracket for the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, known as March Madness, was revealed on Selection Sunday, March 16. The Connecticut Huskies, Houston Cougars, Purdue Boilermakers, and North Carolina Tar Heels were selected as the four No. 1 seeds for the 68-team field. Defending champion UConn enters the tournament as the overall top seed.
The First Four games will tip off on March 18-19 in Dayton, Ohio. The first round of the main tournament begins on March 20, with games spread across multiple sites. The Final Four is scheduled for April 4-6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Analysts highlight UConn's dominant season and Houston's top-ranked defense as key strengths among the favorites. However, the unpredictable nature of single-elimination games means lower-seeded teams are always capable of creating dramatic upsets, a hallmark of the event.
Fans can follow the action across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, as well as via streaming services. The tournament concludes with the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.
