Texas Longhorns to Face Gonzaga Bulldogs in March Madness 2026 Second Round

Opening odds favor Gonzaga as 4.5-point favorites over the underdog Longhorns

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:55am

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The 11-seed Texas Longhorns will take on the 3-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Texas pulled off an upset over 6-seed BYU in the first round, while Gonzaga defeated 14-seed Kennesaw State. Gonzaga opens as a 4.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the game total set at O/U 149.5 points.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams with contrasting styles - the high-powered offense of Gonzaga against the defensive-minded Longhorns. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16, making this an important game with major tournament implications.

The details

Texas upset BYU 79-71 in the first round, despite shooting just 50% from the free throw line and 47% from the field. The Longhorns dominated the glass, grabbing 8 offensive rebounds. Gonzaga defeated Kennesaw State 73-64, shooting 40% from the field but limiting the Owls to just 36% shooting. The Bulldogs dished out 10 more assists and won the rebounding battle by 11.

  • The Texas vs. Gonzaga game will be played on Saturday, with tipoff time TBD.

The players

Gonzaga Bulldogs

The 3-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 31-3 record, good for first place in the West Coast Conference. They have the 10th-best power ranking in the country, with the 37th-best offense and 9th-best defense.

Texas Longhorns

The 11-seed Texas Longhorns were 20-14 on the season and finished 10th in the SEC. They are rated as the 43rd-best team in the country, with the 24th-best offense and 107th-best defense.

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What’s next

The winner of the Texas vs. Gonzaga game will advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

The takeaway

This second-round matchup between the upstart Longhorns and the powerhouse Bulldogs will be a clash of styles, with Gonzaga's high-powered offense facing off against Texas' stifling defense. The outcome could come down to which team is able to impose its will and advance to the next round of the tournament.