Texas to Face NC State in March Madness First Four

Longhorns make NCAA Tournament in Sean Miller's first season as head coach

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:21pm

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The University of Texas men's basketball team, led by first-year head coach Sean Miller, has earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament's First Four round, where they will face off against North Carolina State University.

Why it matters

This marks the Longhorns' return to the NCAA Tournament after missing the Big Dance the previous two seasons. Miller's ability to quickly turn the program around in his debut campaign has energized the fanbase and raised expectations for a deep tournament run.

The details

Texas earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing the regular season with a 21-11 record in the Big 12 Conference. They will take on an NC State squad that won their conference tournament to secure an automatic bid.

  • The First Four games will take place on March 17, 2026.
  • The winner of the Texas-NC State matchup will advance to the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19.

The players

Sean Miller

The new head coach of the Texas Longhorns, hired in 2025 after leading the Xavier Musketeers to five NCAA Tournament appearances.

North Carolina State University

The Wolfpack earned an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament by winning their conference tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited for the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament and represent the University of Texas. Our team has worked hard all season to get to this point, and we're ready to make a run.”

— Sean Miller, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

What’s next

The winner of the Texas-NC State First Four matchup will advance to face the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament's first round on March 19.

The takeaway

Sean Miller's first season at the helm of the Texas Longhorns has been a resounding success, as he has led the team back to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence. The Longhorns will look to carry that momentum into their First Four matchup against NC State and potentially make a deep run in the Big Dance.