March Madness bracket predictions: No. 1 seeds to first four out of NCAA Tournament

Here's the latest projected March Madness bracket, including No. 1 seeds, the last four teams in and the first four out of the NCAA Tournament

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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With just two weekends until Selection Sunday, the March Madness bracket is starting to take shape. Duke has jumped ahead of Arizona and Michigan for the No. 1 overall seed, while UConn, Illinois, Iowa State, Houston and Purdue are in contention for the final No. 1 seed. The bubble has more teams on it heading into the first week of March than in past years, with teams like Kentucky, Indiana and Auburn fighting to secure their spots in the field.

Why it matters

The March Madness bracket is one of the most anticipated events in sports, with millions of fans filling out brackets and following the action as teams compete for the national championship. The predictions and analysis leading up to Selection Sunday provide insight into the top contenders, bubble teams, and potential Cinderella stories that will captivate audiences throughout the tournament.

The details

Duke, led by Cameron Boozer, jumped ahead of Arizona and Michigan for the No. 1 overall seed with a win over the Wolverines in the nation's capital last weekend. The only remaining question for the 1-seed is who will be the No. 4 overall seed, which could include the UConn, Illinois, Iowa State, Houston and Purdue. Florida has been coming into form in recent weeks, winning eight straight heading into a top-25 matchup against Arkansas. Kansas bounced back from an unranked loss to Cincinnati with a 13-point win over Houston and has a shot at their ninth Quad 1 win of the season on Feb. 28 at Arizona. Michigan State has won three straight heading into March, with a 7-5 Quad 1 record and a combined 14-5 in the top two quadrants.

  • In just two weekends, a pristine March Madness bracket will be announced.
  • Selection Sunday is on March 16, 2026.

The players

Cameron Boozer

The star player for Duke, who helped the team jump ahead of Arizona and Michigan for the No. 1 overall seed.

Ryan Odom

The head coach of Virginia, who has done a remarkable job in his first season to get the Cavaliers back in the NCAA Tournament.

Bucky McMillan

The head coach of Texas A&M, who is leading the team to the verge of making the NCAA Tournament in his first season.

Mick Cronin

The head coach of UCLA, who has led the team to back-to-back wins after another viral news conference, including a top-10 win over Illinois.

John Leuzzi

The author of the USA Today article providing the March Madness bracket predictions.

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What they’re saying

“In just two weekends, a pristine March Madness bracket will be announced.”

— John Leuzzi (USA Today)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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