Texas Men's Basketball Earns NCAA Tournament Bid

Longhorns to face North Carolina State in First Four matchup

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:39pm

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The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, marking their sixth consecutive appearance in the Big Dance. However, the Longhorns will have to play in the First Four, facing off against North Carolina State with the winner earning the 11th seed. Texas was considered a bubble team heading into Selection Sunday after losing in the first round of the SEC tournament to Ole Miss.

Why it matters

Making the NCAA Tournament is a significant accomplishment for the Texas men's basketball program, as it demonstrates their continued competitiveness at the highest level of college basketball. However, having to play in the First Four round adds an extra challenge, as the Longhorns will need to win an additional game just to advance to the main tournament bracket.

The details

The Longhorns finished the regular season with an 18-14 record, which was considered on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament bid. Their loss in the SEC tournament to Ole Miss may have hurt their seeding, leading to the First Four matchup against North Carolina State. The winner of that game will be the 11th seed in the tournament.

  • The Longhorns learned their NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Texas will face North Carolina State in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

The players

Texas Longhorns

The men's basketball team from the University of Texas, a perennial contender in the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina State

The Wolfpack, Texas' opponent in the First Four matchup, are also looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

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What’s next

The winner of the Texas-North Carolina State First Four matchup will advance to the main NCAA Tournament bracket as the 11th seed.

The takeaway

Texas' continued presence in the NCAA Tournament, despite some late-season struggles, demonstrates the program's ability to consistently compete at a high level and maintain its status as one of the premier men's basketball teams in the country.