ESPN Analyst Jay Bilas Reveals 2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket Picks

Bilas predicts Arizona will win the national championship, ending a 29-year drought for West Coast teams.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:03pm

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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas has revealed his predictions for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, including his Final Four and national championship picks. Bilas has the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats defeating the No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones in the title game, ending a 29-year drought for West Coast teams winning the national championship. He also has the No. 3 seed Michigan State Spartans making an unexpected run to the championship game before falling to Arizona.

Why it matters

Bilas' NCAA Tournament predictions are closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as he is considered one of the top college basketball experts. His picks provide insight into how the tournament might unfold and which teams have the best chance of cutting down the nets.

The details

In Bilas' Final Four, he has Arizona facing Iowa State and Michigan State taking on Florida. He believes Michigan State will upset No. 1 seed Duke in the Elite Eight to reach the national semifinals. Bilas also has a few notable upset picks, including No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns advancing to the Sweet 16 and No. 11 South Florida Bulls knocking off No. 6 Louisville in the first round.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament will take place in March and April 2026.

The players

Jay Bilas

An ESPN college basketball analyst and former Duke player who is known for his insightful tournament predictions.

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats, who Bilas predicts will win the 2026 national championship.

AJ Dybantsa

A top NBA draft prospect who plays for BYU, one of the teams Bilas has losing in the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“This is a totally different year than last year. Last year was the first time all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four since 2008. This year is different. I feel like this year is going to be a little bit more chaotic.”

— Jay Bilas, ESPN Analyst (Newsweek)

“And I think droughts could end this year. There hasn't been a West Coast champion since Arizona in 1997... so I'm gonna have Michigan State and Arizona in the final, with Arizona cutting the nets down.”

— Jay Bilas, ESPN Analyst (Newsweek)

What’s next

The 2026 NCAA Tournament will take place in March and April 2026, with the Final Four and national championship game scheduled for the first weekend in April.

The takeaway

Jay Bilas' NCAA Tournament predictions provide a glimpse into how the 2026 tournament might unfold, with the analyst forecasting an end to the West Coast's long championship drought and a potential Cinderella run by Michigan State. His picks will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike as the tournament approaches.