Villanova and Utah State set to clash in March Madness Round 1

Wildcats and Aggies battle for a spot in the West Region

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:20am

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The No. 8 seed Villanova Wildcats and No. 9 seed Utah State Aggies will face off in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Villanova, led by junior guard Tyler Perkins and center Duke Brennan, is looking to make a deep run in the West Region, while Utah State, the Mountain West regular season and tournament champions, are led by Player of the Year Mason Falslev and a balanced roster. This matchup between two 15-5 conference teams is considered a toss-up, with the winner likely facing top-seeded Arizona.

Why it matters

This game features two teams that had strong seasons in their respective conferences and are looking to make noise in the NCAA Tournament. Villanova is seeking its first national championship since 2018, while Utah State is making its third straight tournament appearance. The winner of this 8-9 matchup will have a chance to potentially upset the top seed in the West Region.

The details

Villanova, under first-year head coach Kevin Willard, finished third in the Big East with a 15-5 conference record. The Wildcats are led by junior guard Tyler Perkins and center Duke Brennan. Utah State, the Mountain West regular season and tournament champion, is 28-6 overall and 15-5 in conference play. The Aggies are led by Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev and a balanced roster that excels at turning defense into offense.

  • The NCAA tournament game between Villanova and Utah State is set to tip off at 4:10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
  • Villanova is searching for its first national championship since 2018, 10 years removed from the iconic title win over North Carolina.
  • Utah State has made the NCAA Tournament the past three seasons, winning one game.

The players

Villanova Wildcats

The No. 8 seed in the West Region, Villanova is led by junior guard Tyler Perkins and center Duke Brennan. The Wildcats finished third in the Big East with a 15-5 conference record in Kevin Willard's first season as head coach.

Utah State Aggies

The No. 9 seed in the West Region, Utah State is the Mountain West regular season and tournament champion. The Aggies are led by Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev and a balanced roster that excels at turning defense into offense.

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What they’re saying

“We must be locked in from the opening tip to stop a Utah State team that has already proven it can beat anyone, anywhere.”

— Acaden Lewis, Villanova player

What’s next

The winner of the Villanova-Utah State matchup will likely face top-seeded Arizona in the next round of the West Region.

The takeaway

This 8-9 matchup between Villanova and Utah State is considered a toss-up, with the winner having a chance to potentially upset the top seed in the West Region. Both teams had strong seasons in their respective conferences and are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.