Kansas Jayhawks Favored Over California Baptist Lancers in March Madness 2026 First Round

The No. 4 seed Jayhawks open as 12.5-point favorites against the No. 13 seed Lancers in the East Region.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:40pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Kansas Jayhawks, a No. 4 seed in the East Region, will face the No. 13 seed California Baptist Lancers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Kansas is a 12.5-point favorite, while California Baptist is +400 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 134.5 points.

Why it matters

This matchup features a traditional March Madness powerhouse in Kansas against a California Baptist program making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance at the Division I level. The Jayhawks will be heavily favored, but the Lancers will look to pull off a major upset and advance in the Big Dance.

The details

Kansas earned a No. 4 seed in the East Region despite struggling to maintain consistency down the stretch, losing three of their last five games. Freshman guard Darryn Peterson leads the Jayhawks with 19.8 points per game and is expected to be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. California Baptist secured its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid by upsetting Utah Valley in the WAC championship game. Dominique Daniels Jr. paces the Lancers with 23.2 points per game.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament first round matchup between Kansas and California Baptist will take place on March 21, 2026.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A freshman guard for the Kansas Jayhawks who leads the team with 19.8 points per game and is expected to be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Dominique Daniels Jr.

The leading scorer for the California Baptist Lancers, averaging 23.2 points per game and helping the program reach its first-ever NCAA Tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Kansas earned a four seed in the Big Dance. Darryn Peterson headlines the production with 19.8 points per game. The freshman is expected to be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but he'll be guiding Kansas through March Madness first.”

— Brendan O'Sullivan, Author (draftkings.com)

“California Baptist secured an NCAA Tournament bid after upsetting Utah Valley in the WAC championship. The Lancers won by just two points after Utah Valley missed a dunk in the final moments. This marked the program's first WAC championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance in Division I. Dominique Daniels Jr. leads the team with 23.2 points per game.”

— Brendan O'Sullivan, Author (draftkings.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Kansas-California Baptist matchup will advance to face the winner of the No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 seed game in the East Region's second round on March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

This first-round clash pits a traditional March Madness powerhouse in Kansas against an upstart California Baptist program making its inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance. While the Jayhawks are heavily favored, the Lancers will look to pull off a Cinderella upset and advance in the Big Dance.