Big 12 Poised for Strong March Madness Showing in 2026

Arizona projected as a No. 1 seed, while Iowa State, Houston, and Kansas also expected to earn high seeds

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The latest NCAA Tournament bracketology projections have the Big 12 Conference sending eight teams to March Madness in 2026, up from seven bids the previous year. Arizona is currently slotted as a No. 1 seed, with Iowa State, Houston, and Kansas also expected to earn high seeds in the tournament.

Why it matters

The Big 12 has long been one of the premier college basketball conferences, and a strong showing in the 2026 NCAA Tournament would further cement its reputation as one of the toughest leagues in the country. A high number of bids and high seeds for Big 12 teams could also boost the conference's chances of producing a national champion.

The details

According to the projections, Arizona is currently a No. 1 seed, while Iowa State and Houston are both No. 2 seeds. Kansas is slotted as a No. 3 seed, with Texas Tech also earning a spot in the field. BYU is a No. 6 seed, UCF is a No. 10 seed, and TCU is listed as one of the last teams to make the tournament as an 11 seed. West Virginia is currently the Big 12's best chance to earn an additional bid, though teams like Cincinnati, Arizona State, and Oklahoma State could also make a late push.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament is scheduled for March.
  • The latest bracketology projections were released on February 19, 2026.

The players

Arizona

A No. 1 seed in the current NCAA Tournament projections.

Iowa State

Projected as a No. 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Houston

Also projected as a No. 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Kansas

Slotted as a No. 3 seed in the current bracketology projections.

Texas Tech

Expected to earn an NCAA Tournament bid as a projected No. 3 seed.

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What’s next

The regular season will continue through early March, with conference tournament play determining the final NCAA Tournament field and seeding.

The takeaway

The Big 12 is poised for a banner year in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with multiple teams projected to earn high seeds and the conference potentially sending a record number of teams to the Big Dance. This could be a pivotal moment for the Big 12 to solidify its status as one of the elite conferences in college basketball.