5 Double-Digit Seeds That Could Cause Chaos in 2026 NCAA Tournament

These lower-seeded teams have the talent and momentum to pull off big upsets in March Madness.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:53am

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Before filling out your NCAA Tournament brackets, here are five double-digit seeds that could cause chaos during the 2026 March Madness. These teams have the firepower, experience, and recent momentum to potentially pull off big upsets in the opening rounds.

Why it matters

The NCAA Tournament is known for its unpredictability, and these lower-seeded teams have the ingredients to be this year's Cinderella stories. Their deep shooting, experienced rosters, and hot streaks heading into the Big Dance make them dangerous potential bracket-busters.

The details

The five double-digit seeds to watch are: No. 12 Akron Zips, No. 13 Cal Baptist Lancers, No. 14 High Point Panthers, No. 11 NC State Wolfpack, and No. 11 South Florida Bulls. These teams have standout players, efficient offenses, and strong defensive identities that could allow them to knock off higher-seeded opponents in the opening rounds.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament field was announced on Selection Sunday, March 16.
  • First-round games featuring these double-digit seeds will be played on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21.

The players

Tavari Johnson

The Akron Zips' star point guard who leads the MAC in scoring at 20.1 points per game.

Dominique Daniels Jr.

The Cal Baptist Lancers' senior guard who is responsible for 34% of his team's shots, the 11th-highest rate in the country.

Rob Martin

The 5'10" High Point Panthers guard who is adept at drawing fouls despite the team's undersized roster.

Will Wade

The first-year head coach of the NC State Wolfpack, who are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance under his leadership.

Wes Enis

The South Florida Bulls' junior guard who has averaged 23.4 points per game over his last five outings.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for Akron's three-point shooting barrage. They have several guys who can really fill it up from deep.”

— Robert Jenkins, Texas Tech Head Coach

“Cal Baptist's defense on the three-point line is really impressive. We'll have to find ways to generate good looks from inside the arc against their length and athleticism.”

— Bill Self, Kansas Head Coach

What’s next

The winners of the first-round matchups featuring these double-digit seeds will advance to face higher-seeded opponents in the second round on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24.

The takeaway

These five double-digit seeds have the talent, experience, and recent momentum to potentially pull off big upsets in the opening rounds of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Their combination of efficient offenses, stifling defenses, and star players make them dangerous Cinderella candidates to keep an eye on as March Madness unfolds.