Eighth-grader's perfect women's NCAA bracket lasts until Sweet 16

Otto Schellhammer's bracket finally misses a game after a remarkable run through the opening rounds.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:57am

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An eighth-grader named Otto Schellhammer had the only perfect bracket after the opening weekend of the men's and women's NCAA college basketball tournaments, with over 40 million entries across all the major contests. Schellhammer's perfect run lasted until the Sweet 16 round of the women's tournament, when No. 6 seed Notre Dame beat second-seeded Vanderbilt.

Why it matters

Filling out a perfect March Madness bracket is an incredibly rare feat, with the odds estimated at 1 in 9.2 quintillion. Schellhammer's achievement at just 14 years old highlights the unpredictability and excitement of the NCAA tournament, where even casual fans can sometimes outsmart the experts.

The details

Schellhammer, from Plum Borough, Pennsylvania, told the Associated Press that his perfect bracket was '100% luck' and that he didn't know much about basketball. His mother Amy called it 'absolutely hilarious' and said her son was getting more excited about watching the games because of his success. Schellhammer had picked Texas to win the women's national title in his bracket.

  • Schellhammer's perfect bracket lasted through the opening weekend of both the men's and women's NCAA tournaments.
  • Schellhammer's run ended in the Sweet 16 round of the women's tournament on Friday, March 28, 2026.

The players

Otto Schellhammer

A 14-year-old eighth-grader from Plum Borough, Pennsylvania who had the only perfect bracket after the opening weekend of the men's and women's NCAA tournaments, with over 40 million entries.

Amy Schellhammer

The mother of Otto Schellhammer, who called her son's perfect bracket 'absolutely hilarious' and said he was getting more excited about watching the games because of his success.

Mike Benzie

The senior director of content for NCAA Digital, who stated there were about 36 million men's bracket entries and 5.2 million on the women's side.

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What they’re saying

“It was '100% luck' and that he didn't know anything about basketball despite that perfect start through 48 games.”

— Otto Schellhammer, Eighth-grader

“Absolutely hilarious' and said her son had been getting more excited about watching the games because of the perfect start.”

— Amy Schellhammer, Mother of Otto Schellhammer

What’s next

The NCAA will likely highlight Schellhammer's remarkable bracket run, and he may receive media attention or even invitations to appear on sports talk shows to discuss his experience.

The takeaway

Schellhammer's perfect bracket through the opening rounds of March Madness, despite his lack of basketball knowledge, underscores the unpredictable nature of the NCAA tournament and the potential for casual fans to outperform experts. His achievement at just 14 years old is a testament to the excitement and accessibility of college basketball's biggest event.