Malvern Teen Ranks 2nd in Millions of March Madness Brackets

13-year-old Liam Markut's bracket predictions have him poised to win the NCAA championship game.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:21pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented college basketball game, with sharp planes of navy, crimson, and yellow overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.A teen's unexpected success in the March Madness bracket challenge highlights the unpredictable nature of the tournament and the role luck can play, even for casual fans.Malvern Today

Liam Markut, a 13-year-old from Malvern, Iowa, is ranked 2nd out of an estimated 38 million people who submitted NCAA March Madness brackets this year. Despite not following college basketball closely, Markut's bracket predictions have been nearly flawless, including correctly picking the Final Four and championship game matchup.

Why it matters

Markut's unexpected success in the bracket challenge highlights the unpredictable nature of March Madness and the role luck can play, even for casual fans. His story has captured national attention and sparked discussions about the popularity of NCAA tournament brackets as a form of entertainment and competition.

The details

Markut, who enjoys college basketball but doesn't follow it closely, essentially threw together his bracket while riding in the car. Yet his predictions have been remarkably accurate, including a perfect run through the Midwest region, 14 of the Sweet 16 teams, 7 of the Elite 8, all of the Final Four, and the correct championship game matchup. Realizing his knack for bracket predictions, Markut joked that he might consider placing a wager on next year's tournament.

  • Markut submitted his bracket for the 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

The players

Liam Markut

A 13-year-old from Malvern, Iowa who is ranked 2nd out of an estimated 38 million people who submitted NCAA March Madness brackets this year.

Whitney Markut

Liam Markut's mother, who appeared alongside him in an interview.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Yard work.”

— Liam Markut

What’s next

Markut will be watching the NCAA championship game, where he predicts Michigan will beat the University of Connecticut in a close 76-72 matchup.

The takeaway

Markut's unexpected success in the March Madness bracket challenge demonstrates the unpredictable nature of the tournament and the role luck can play, even for casual fans. His story has captured national attention and sparked discussions about the enduring popularity of NCAA tournament brackets as a form of entertainment and competition.