Sweet 16 Mixes Surprise Teams with Chalk Favorites

The regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament feature both unexpected teams and top seeds.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 11:04am

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The Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament features a mix of surprise teams and the expected top seeds. After a first round filled with upsets, the regional semifinals have turned into a high-major affair with most of the top teams still in contention.

Why it matters

The Sweet 16 is a crucial stage of the NCAA Tournament, as teams vie to advance to the Elite Eight and move one step closer to the national championship. The combination of Cinderella stories and powerhouse programs makes for an exciting and unpredictable tournament.

The details

Several lower-seeded teams pulled off upsets in the first round, but most of the top teams have advanced to the Sweet 16. Defending champion Florida was eliminated by a more physical Iowa squad, while No. 1 overall seed Texas rolled past Oregon in the second round.

  • The Sweet 16 games will be played on March 24, 2026.

The players

Texas

The No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Texas rolled past Oregon in the second round.

Iowa

The physical Iowa squad eliminated defending champion Florida in the second round.

Florida

The defending national champion Gators were eliminated in the second round by a more physical Iowa team.

Oregon

The No. 8 seed Oregon Ducks were defeated by No. 1 Texas in the second round.

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What’s next

The Sweet 16 games will be played on March 24, 2026, with the winners advancing to the Elite Eight.

The takeaway

The 2026 NCAA Tournament has featured a mix of surprise teams and top seeds, setting the stage for an exciting Sweet 16. While some Cinderella stories have been eliminated, the regional semifinals promise high-level matchups between the nation's best college basketball programs.