The organizational structure for the NCAA men’s basketball championship has been unveiled, designating Duke University as the top-ranked team across all regions, positioned within the East bracket.
Arizona secured the premier seed in the Western section, Michigan earned the leading seed in the Central division, and Florida obtained the highest seed in the Southern section, notwithstanding their defeat in the Southeastern Conference tournament’s semifinal round.
Competitive games for the NCAA championship will commence on Tuesday and Wednesday with the inaugural ‘First Four’ matches held in Dayton, Ohio, preceding the comprehensive slate of games for all participating teams, which are scheduled to begin on Thursday and Friday.
According to Keith Gill, who serves as both the Sun Belt’s commissioner and the head of the NCAA men’s basketball selection panel, as conveyed to CBS, Michigan’s standing declined from the second top seed nationwide to the third, following Arizona, attributable to their defeat by Purdue in Sunday’s Big Ten championship contest. Conversely, Purdue ascended from a third seed to a second seed as a direct result of their victory.
In related news, Miami (Ohio) secured a spot in the competition as an at-large participant, ranking among the final quartet of teams admitted, despite an early exit in the initial round of the MAC tournament after an unblemished regular season record. Nonetheless, they were not the absolute final entry. Gill indicated that Miami was chosen over Texas, SMU, and NC State, all of whom also gained entry as part of the concluding four teams.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the complete structure for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball championship.
East region
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU
No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist
No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman
Cameron Boozer and his Blue Devils squad secured the premier overall seeding for the NCAA tournament subsequent to their triumph in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship fixture.
(Michael Hickey via Getty Images)
West region
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU
No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas/NC State
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State
No. 7 Miami (Florida) vs. No. 10 Missouri
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens
Midwest
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 UMBC/Howard
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis
No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 SMU/Miami (Ohio)
No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State
No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State
South region
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh
No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy
No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho
Multi-bid conferences
SEC: 10
Big Ten: 9
ACC 8
Big 12: 8
Big East: 3
WCC: 3
Atlantic 10: 2
MAC: 2
Last four in
NC State
Texas
SMU
Miami (Ohio)
First four out
Oklahoma
Auburn
San Diego State
Indiana
