ESPN's 2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket Sees Major Shakeup

Duke, Arizona, UConn, and Michigan projected as No. 1 seeds after turbulent weekend of college basketball action.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 3:53pm

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With Selection Sunday just 12 days away, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has updated his 2026 NCAA Tournament Bracketology to reflect the latest wins and losses across the college basketball landscape. Duke, Arizona, UConn, and Michigan are projected as the No. 1 seeds, while teams like Ohio State, Indiana, Auburn, and Texas A&M are fighting for at-large bids. The bracket features several high-profile matchups and coaching showdowns in the East Region.

Why it matters

The NCAA Tournament bracket is one of the most anticipated events in sports, with millions of fans filling out their predictions. Lunardi's updated projections provide an early look at the potential field, highlighting the teams and players that could make deep tournament runs. This shakeup in the bracket also raises questions about which bubble teams will ultimately secure at-large bids and how the top seeds will fare against potential Cinderella stories.

The details

Duke has surged to the projected No. 1 overall seed after winning 17 of its last 18 games, including victories over several ranked opponents. Meanwhile, other Power-Five teams like Ohio State, Indiana, Auburn, and Texas A&M are still fighting for tournament berths. The bracket features several marquee matchups, including No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Tennessee State, No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 Long Island/UMBC, and a potential Elite Eight showdown between No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Michigan State in the East Region.

  • Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is just 12 days away.
  • Duke has won 17 of its last 18 games since February.
  • Florida has won 9 consecutive games heading into the tournament.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, who are projected as the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Cameron Boozer

The star freshman forward for the Duke Blue Devils.

Jeremy Fears Jr.

The likely All-Big Ten guard for the Michigan State Spartans, who are projected as a No. 2 seed.

Graham Ike

The two-time First Team All-WCC forward for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are projected as a No. 4 seed.

Mikel Brown Jr.

The star freshman guard for the Louisville Cardinals, who are projected as a No. 6 seed.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This updated NCAA Tournament bracket projection highlights the unpredictable nature of college basketball and the potential for unexpected teams to make deep tournament runs. With several high-profile matchups and coaching showdowns on the horizon, this year's Big Dance is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.