Duke, Arizona, Michigan, Florida Earn No. 1 Seeds for 2026 NCAA Tournament

Selection Sunday brings the full bracket reveal for the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:40pm

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The 68-team field for the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament has been announced, with Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida earning the No. 1 seeds. The tournament tips off this week, with the First Four on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the first round on Thursday. Michigan enters as the slight betting favorite at +325, followed by Duke (+333), Arizona (+425), and defending champion Florida (+600).

Why it matters

The NCAA tournament is one of the most exciting events in sports, with Cinderella stories, bracket-busting upsets, and the crowning of a national champion. The selection of the four No. 1 seeds sets the stage for what should be a thrilling three weeks of March Madness.

The details

Duke was announced as the tournament's overall No. 1 seed, playing out of the East region. Arizona is the No. 1 seed in the West, Michigan is the No. 1 in the Midwest, and Florida is the top seed in the South despite losing in the SEC tournament semifinals. The South region features some potential geographic disadvantages, with No. 2 Houston potentially facing No. 1 Florida in the Elite Eight in Houston, and No. 3 Illinois potentially playing No. 6 North Carolina in Greenville, South Carolina. The Midwest region behind Michigan also appears wide open, with several teams like Iowa State, Kentucky, and Virginia having a chance to make a deep run.

  • The First Four games will be played on Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19.
  • The first round of the tournament will take place on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21.

The players

Duke

The Blue Devils are the tournament's No. 1 overall seed, playing out of the East region.

Arizona

The Wildcats are the No. 1 seed in the West region.

Michigan

The Wolverines are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region and the tournament's slight betting favorite at +325.

Florida

The defending national champion Gators are the No. 1 seed in the South region despite losing in the SEC tournament semifinals.

Houston

The No. 2 seed in the South region, the Cougars could potentially face No. 1 Florida in the Elite Eight in Houston.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee

The takeaway

The 2026 NCAA tournament bracket is set, with four powerhouse programs earning the coveted No. 1 seeds. While Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida enter as the favorites, the unpredictable nature of March Madness means any team could make a Cinderella run and cut down the nets as national champions.