Selection Sunday is fast approaching, after four No. 1 seeds emerged from 2026 conference tournaments to set the stage for the March Madness bracket.
UConn remains the overall top seed despite questions about whether UCLA might deserve the spot, while SEC tournament winner Texas jumped South Carolina to claim the third seed. The Longhorns victory allows the team to stay close to home with potential games in Fort Worth, while South Carolina heads to Sacramento to tip off regional play.
UCLA crushed Iowa 96-45 to capture the Big Ten tournament title, with the Bruins holding advantages in key metrics with 18 Q1 wins and one of the nation's toughest schedules. However, the NCAA selection committee already placed undefeated UConn at No. 1 in both Top 16 reveals this season.
Duke claimed the fourth No. 1 seed by winning both the ACC regular season and tournament championships, after the Blue Devils beat Louisville in overtime to secure the top line.
West Virginia broke into the Top 16 for the first time since 1992 by upsetting TCU 62-53 in the Big 12 championship, with the Mountaineers subsequently hosting NCAA tournament games.
However, the bubble remains tight heading into March 15th's Selection Sunday. Arizona State boosted its resume with two Big 12 tournament wins, while Richmond survived despite losing in the Atlantic 10 semifinals and Nebraska hangs on despite a first-round exit.
How to Watch Selection Sunday's March Madness Bracket 2026 Reveal
Selection Sunday arrives March 15th at 8 PM ET on ESPN, with 23 automatic bids remaining undecided as the 2026 bracket continues to take shape this week.
