Barack Obama Reveals 2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket Picks

Former president continues annual tradition of analyzing March Madness tournament

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:50am

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Former President Barack Obama has released his 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket picks, continuing an annual tradition he began in 2009. While sticking largely to chalk with his selections, Obama's bracket does feature a few unconventional choices, including picking Iowa State to nearly upset No. 1 seed Arizona and Illinois to advance past defending champion Florida.

Why it matters

Obama's NCAA Tournament bracket picks have become an annual tradition, offering a glimpse into the former president's basketball knowledge and preferences. His selections are closely analyzed each year, providing insight into the state of college basketball and the unpredictability of the tournament.

The details

In his 2026 bracket, Obama has Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, advancing to the championship game, while picking Arizona to win it all. He also has Illinois upsetting Florida and Vanderbilt and Tennessee making unexpected runs. Obama's bracket features a mix of safe picks and some bolder selections, with an 'Audacity factor' ranging from 2/10 to 7.5/10 across different regions.

  • Obama has released his NCAA Tournament bracket picks annually since 2009.

The players

Barack Obama

The former president of the United States, who has made his NCAA Tournament bracket picks an annual tradition since 2009.

Charles Barkley

The former NBA player and current TV analyst, who referred to the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the 'Arizona Ass-Kicking Invitational'.

CJ Moore

The resident bracket expert at The Athletic, who has Michigan winning the championship in his own 2026 bracket.

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What they’re saying

“Continuing an annual tradition he began in 2009, the former president made his NCAA Tournament picks, taking Arizona to win it all.”

— Dan Shanoff, Author

“In an era of college basketball where picking all four No. 1 seeds is not just the safe bet but the smart one, Obama goes a little unconventional, probably buying Iowa State nearly knocking off Arizona in the Big 12 tournament — or perhaps simply not buying Michigan (the championship pick of The Athletic's resident bracket maven CJ Moore).”

— Dan Shanoff, Author

What’s next

Obama's bracket picks will be closely followed throughout the NCAA Tournament, with fans and analysts alike tracking how his selections fare. As the tournament unfolds, there will be continued interest in seeing how Obama's unconventional choices, such as Illinois and Vanderbilt, perform.

The takeaway

Barack Obama's annual NCAA Tournament bracket picks have become a highly anticipated tradition, offering a unique perspective on the state of college basketball. While sticking largely to chalk this year, his bracket does feature some bold choices that could shake up the tournament, adding to the unpredictability and excitement of March Madness.