31 States Represented in 2026 March Madness Tournament

Texas leads with 7 teams, while Alaska and Maine remain absent from the field

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:50am

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The 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday, with 68 teams from 31 states and Washington, D.C. earning a path to the national title. Texas leads all states with 7 teams in the field, followed by North Carolina with 5 teams. However, several states including Alaska, Colorado, Maine, and more will not be represented in this year's March Madness.

Why it matters

The uneven distribution of teams across states highlights the regional strengths in college basketball. The concentration of talent in states like Texas and North Carolina may give those schools an advantage, while the lack of representation from certain states raises questions about the accessibility and growth of the sport in those regions.

The details

Texas leads all states with 7 teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament: Houston, Prairie View A&M, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and TCU. North Carolina has the second-most teams with 5, while California, Florida, New York and Ohio each have 4 teams. Several states, including Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, and more, do not have any teams in this year's tournament.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Texas

The state with the most teams (7) in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina

The state with the second-most teams (5) in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

California, Florida, New York, Ohio

Each of these states has 4 teams represented in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming

These states do not have any teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

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The takeaway

The 2026 March Madness tournament highlights the regional disparities in college basketball, with certain states dominating the field while others remain absent. As the tournament begins, the concentration of talent in powerhouse states like Texas and North Carolina could give those teams an advantage, while the lack of representation from other regions raises questions about the sport's growth and accessibility nationwide.