March Madness bracket revealed: 2026 NCAA men’s tournament announced with Duke as No. 1 overall seed

The NCAA men’s tournament bracket has been revealed with Duke as the No. 1 overall seed playing out of the East region.

Arizona is the No. 1 seed in the West, Michigan is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest and Florida is the No. 1 seed in the south despite a loss in the semifinals of the SEC tournament.

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March Madness play tips off Tuesday and Wednesday in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, before the full tournament field starts play on Thursday and Friday.

[Printable bracket | Enter Yahoo Bracket Mayhem now]

Sun Belt commissioner and chair of the NCAA men’s basketball committee Keith Gill told CBS that Michigan fell from the No. 2 overall seed to the No. 3 overall seed behind Arizona due to its loss in Sunday’s Big Ten championship game to Purdue. Purdue, meanwhile, jumped from a No. 3 seed to a No. 2 seed because of its win.

Miami (Ohio), meanwhile, made the field as an-large team and one of the last four teams in after losing in the first round of the MAC tournament following an undefeated regular season. It wasn’t, however, the last team in. Per Gill, Miami was selected ahead of Texas, SMU and NC State, which were also among the last four teams to make the field.

Here’s how the full bracket breaks down for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

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East region

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU
No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist
No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman

West region

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU
No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas/NC State
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State
No. 7 Miami (Florida) vs. No. 10 Missouri
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens

Midwest

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 UMBC/Howard
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 St. Louis
No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 SMU/Miami (Ohio)
No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State
No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State

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South region

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prarie View A&M/Lehigh
No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy
No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho

Multi-bid conferences

SEC: 10
Big Ten: 9
ACC 8
Big 12: 8
Big East: 3
WCC: 3
Atlantic 10: 2
MAC: 2

Last four in

NC State
Texas
SMU
Miami (Ohio)

First four out

Oklahoma
Auburn
San Diego State
Indiana