Jason Burgos
The 2026 edition of the men’s NCAA Tournament, AKA March Madness, is now into the Round of 32. On Saturday, the biggest and best tournament in American sports resumes, but who are the best of the best among the teams left, and are there any potential Cinderellas that could make it to the Sweet 16?
We look to answer those questions with our ranking of the 32 teams still standing in the NCAA Tournament.
Get a look at Saturday’s NCAA tournament schedule
32. Kentucky
Coach Mark Pope has been able to maintain the high standard set by John Calipari and has Kentucky back in the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight year. This year’s group is far from a vintage Wildcats group, but they do have some solid talent in 2026, including senior guard Otega Oweh.
But they may not stick around long and needed some serious heroics to avoid an opening round loss to Santa Clara.
31. UCLA
UCLA has had a rock-solid season in a tough Big Ten. Posting 23 wins in 2025-26, including victories over four ranked teams. Senior Tyler Bilodeau leads a team that has more than enough talent to win a game or two in March Madness and did that this week by getting a hard-fought W over UCF.
30. Utah State
Jerrod Calhoun has continued Utah State’s competitive play over the last few years by guiding the Aggies to a fourth straight trip to the big dance in 2026. Utah State has been a top team in the Mountain West all season and put a period on that fact with a conference tournament win last week.
They have a rock-solid offense and defense and are led by the backcourt duo of MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev. Both starred in their Round 1 win over Villanova.
29. Iowa
While they have been lost in the shadow of Iowa State this year, Iowa has had a rock-solid showing in 2025-26 and is back in the Big Dance for the first time in three years. The main reason why is a defense is giving up just 66.0 points to opponents. It, unsurprisingly, played a role in their 67-61 opening round win over Clemson.
28. Texas A&M
Texas A&M is back in March Madness for a fourth straight season because of an offense that is scoring 87.7 points a game — ninth-best in the country during the regular season. The group has six different players scoring 10 or more points a night and is led by USC transfer Rashaun Agee. Their upset win over a top-25 school, Saint Mary’s, turned some heads.
27. VCU
There were concerns that when Ryan Odom left to be the head coach at Virginia, VCU would fall off in 2025-26. However, his replacement, Phil Martelli, maintained the standard and actually improved their scoring.
It is a major reason why they stormed to the A-10 title last week and earned a third trip to the dance over the last four years. Their win over 6-seed North Carolina put their round of 32 opponent, Illinois, on notice.
26. Texas
At the midway point of February, Texas seemed like a shoo-in to reach the tournament as they owned an 18-9 record. However, losing five of their last six is why they needed to play their way into March Madness.
Nonetheless, the team scoring 83.8 points a night earned its spot with a First Four win over NC State. Then further proved their NCAA Tournament worthiness with a win over POTY candidate AJ Dybantsa and BYU.
25. High Point
Alan Huss turned High Point into a Big South powerhouse the last two seasons. Yet, despite his exit, his replacement, Flynn Claymann, has maintained that high standard in 2025-26.
The Panthers have had their best season in school history (31-4), and a major reason why the conference champs have Cinderella potential is an offense that is scoring the third most points in the nation. It was on display in a huge Round 1 win over Wisconsin.
24. TCU
After a down season in 2024-25, Jamie Dixon has TCU back in the Big Dance for the fourth time in the last five years. A key reason is a rock-solid defense that is holding teams to 72.1 points a night and some great recent play from their top scorer, David Punch. All of it showed in a decisive opening round victory over Ohio State.
23. Miami
Jai Lucas was handed a difficult situation in having to turn Miami basketball around after a disastrous 7-24 season from his predecessor in 2024-25. However, in his first season as a head coach, he has the 26-8 Hurricanes in the Round of 32.
Their big bounce-back season is due to some strong years from transfers Tre Donaldson and Malik Reneau. The duo combined for over 35 points and 9 rebounds a night during the regular season.
22. Texas Tech
Texas Tech has progressed a lot during Grant McCasland’s first two seasons overseeing the program. However, the news that top star JT Toppin — one of the best scorers in the nation (21.8 PPG) — was out for the season put a dark cloud over their campaign. They head into the Round of 32 after ending a three-game losing skid.
21. St. Louis
Saint Louis had one of the program’s best seasons in 2025-26. Posting a 28-5 record as they won the regular season title in the A-10. While the Billikens didn’t win the conference tourney, star big man Robbie Avila leads the ninth-best offense in the nation (87.2) this weekend. Their opening round destruction of Georgia proved they are a potential Cinderella team to watch this weekend.
20. Tennessee
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is proving why he is a notable prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft. He is second on the team in points and leads in rebounds. The combo of him and senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie is why the Vols are an SEC team that can never be underestimated.
For much of the season, Tennessee has been an inconsistent group and already has more losses than it did last year, but it won’t be an easy out in the Round of 32.
19. Louisville
Louisville owns a solid 24-10 record due to the strong play of its trio of talented guards. Mikel Brown Jr. could be a top 15 pick in June, senior Ryan Conwell has been just as good, and Cardinals veteran Isaac McKneely is as reliable as ever.
The trio is not easy to defend — when they are all available — and it has shown in wins over Kentucky and Indiana earlier this season. However, they have had an inconsistent last few weeks, going 5-4 in their last nine.
18. Alabama
Alabama can be a problem for any team in the nation on any night. The Crimson Tide has the best scoring offense in college basketball (91.7 PPG during the season), and it is led by future NBA draft pick Labaron Philon Jr — his 21.7 PPG is 12th-best in the nation.
Yet, despite their offensive firepower, they had a tough go of it in January. Going 4-3 in the month. However, since Feb. 4, they have been much better and posted Ws in 10 of their last 12.
17. Kansas
Kansas was a frustratingly inconsistent group for much of this season. You just never truly knew what you would get from week to week. However, the Jayhawks and top star Darryn Peterson (19.8 PPG when he is on the court) got hot at the midway point of the season and reeled off eight straight Ws, half against ranked teams.
However, they were back to their inconsistent ways over the last few weeks. Going 5-5 in their last nine, including a Big 12 tourney blowout loss to Houston.
16. Nebraska
Fred Hoiberg’s 2026 team looks to be his best yet at Nebraska. The school heads into Selection Sunday with a 26-6 record and is fronted by former Bradley recruit Rienk Mast. The Dutch senior is second on his team in points and first in rebounds. He is part of a formidable combo with junior Pryce Sandfort, who led in scoring with 17.8 PPG.
Nebraska emerged as a serious problem in the Big Ten after starting the year 20-0, including victories over Illinois and Michigan State. However, they have been up-and-down since the end of January, losing six of their last 13, including surprising setbacks to Iowa and UCLA.
15. Gonzaga
Mark Few’s Gonzaga squad owns an impressive 31-3 record because of what their veteran front court of Braden Huff and WCC POTY Graham Ike gives them each night. The duo averaged nearly 40 points and 15 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs this season.
While they’ve suffered a pair of surprise setbacks to Portland and Saint Mary’s in recent weeks, the WCC Champs are still playing well right now.
14. Michigan State
Legendary coach Tom Izzo has another good Michigan State team on his hands in 2026. This year’s group has four players averaging 10 or more points and is led by star guard Jeremy Fears Jr. There is no better proof of their top 25 worthiness than owning wins over five ranked teams this season.
If they are focused and playing up to potential, Michigan State can make noise in March Madness, and did so in their first game.
13. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt’s backcourt duo of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles leads a Commodores offense that was scoring 86.7 PPG — 13th best in the nation — during the season. It’s why they own a 27-7 record.
After starting the year 16-0, Vanderbilt has been up and down. Going 8-7 ahead of the SEC conference tourney. However, they showed they can make serious noise in the tournament by making an impressive run to the SEC conference final last week and winning in Round 1.
12. Illinois
Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a force in the Big Ten and a consistent tournament participant. A key reason why they are in our updated college basketball rankings is freshman guard Keaton Wagler. The breakout star leads the Fighting Illini in scoring and assists.
Illinois’ rise into a top team in the conference came after a 12-game win streak that included Ws over three ranked rivals. Unfortunately, they cooled off in recent weeks. They can still end up being a tough out in the tourney.
11. Virginia
Head coach Ryan Odom had a rough go of it in his first year overseeing Virginia. However, year two has been far better due to the strong play of Belgian big man Thijs de Ridder. The freshman forward leads in points and rebounds for the 30-5 team.
The only thing that stopped the Cavaliers from getting in the top 10 during the regular season was limited wins against ranked schools. Nevertheless, they have won 14 of their last 16 and looked good in their Round 1 win.
10. UConn
It’s another season in college basketball, and UConn is again among the top 10 programs in the country. Although they took a step back last season, they retooled in the summer by adding stud recruit Braylon Mullins and are back to being a title contender in 2026.
Senior big man Tarris Reed Jr. and junior guard Solo Ball lead the way for a team that is not just a group to respect on offense, but is a handful on defense (65.1 opponents PPG). However, they stumbled their way into the tournament and were blown out by St. John’s in the Big East final.
9. Arkansas
Arkansas has an impressive all-freshman backcourt in Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. However, Acuff — the SEC POTY — has emerged as the best of the pair, and the Razorbacks’ star continues to generate serious NBA Draft buzz by leading the team in scoring and assists.
In year two with legendary head coach John Calipari, Arkansas has gotten hot at the right time. Scoring big wins over four ranked teams during the season and storming their way to an SEC conference title this month.
8. Iowa State
In his final season at Iowa State, Joshua Jefferson is creating serious NBA Draft buzz by being among the team leaders in points, rebounds, and assists. But the Cyclones have also gotten strong seasons from guard Tamin Lipsey and top scorer Milan Momcilovic.
They enter the Round of 32 due to those three and a formidable defense that gave up 65.1 points a night during the regular season. However, they have been up and down over the last two weeks and were eliminated in the semi of the Big 12 tourney by Arizona.
7. Purdue
Purdue has something most elite schools lack: Top players with a boatload of experience. Seniors Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith lead the way for the Boilermakers in 2026 and are combining for close to 30 points a night. Smith is also adding just under nine assists a game.
Purdue began the season with an impressive 17-1 record. However, since Jan. 20, they have been an inconsistent group. The school that was near the top of the college basketball rankings has split its 14 games before the conference tourney. However, a fantastic run to the Big Ten conference title and a dominant Round 1 make Purdue a potential title contender.
6. St. John’s
There were huge expectations for St. John’s this season after a breakthrough year in 2024-25. However, over the first two months of the season, they were inconsistent and struggled against ranked schools.
But since the calendar hit 2026, the team led by Big East POTY Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins has been on a tear. Since Jan. 6, they are 20-1 and have two wins over UConn, including smashing the Huskies in the Big East conference final.
5. Florida
The first couple of months of the season for defending champs Florida were rough as they lost four of their first nine games. However, after back-to-back defeats to Duke and UConn, the Gators have played like a team ready for another deep run in March. Since Dec. 13, they are 22-3 and have Ws over six ranked schools.
Juniors Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh led the way during their resurgence. However, Rueben Chinyelu has been the X-factor because the center is having a breakout season. Posting 11.2 points and 11.5 rebounds a night during the regular season. While they came up short of reaching the SEC finals, they are worthy of their No. 1 seed in the tournament.
4. Houston
Kelvin Sampson’s Houston squad is again among the top teams in the nation. Senior Emanuel Sharp has been as important as ever, but if they win the program’s first national championship this month, it will be because of freshman Kingston Flemings, who is emerging as a potential top-five pick in June.
Beyond Sharp and Flemings, the Cougars own a 29-6 record due to an elite defense that limited opponents to just 62.9 points a night — second-best in the nation. After a three-game losing skid at the end of February, they got hot late in the season and into the tourney.
3. Michigan
Michigan has shown that head coach Dusty May has a team that can win the program’s first championship in close to 40 years this month. Big Ten POTY Yaxel Lendeborg leads a dominant front court that has the Wolverines among the 10 best scoring teams in the country.
Their rise to elite status in 2026 featured wins over eight ranked teams. After a surprising loss to Purdue in the Big Ten finals, they bounced back with a dominant win to open the NCAA Tournament.
2. Arizona
Arizona has been impressive throughout the 2025-26 regular season. Led by fantastic play from freshman Brayden Burries and Big 12 player of the year Jaden Bradley, the Wildcats posted wins over 12 top-25 teams during the season.
Their performance has been led by an offense that averaged 86.1 PPG (14th-best in the nation). After a pair of tough losses to Kansas and Texas Tech in February, Arizona has caught fire and roared into the NCAA Tournament as the Big 12 champs.
1. Duke
Duke had a vintage Blue Devils regular season because of the outstanding performance of ACC POTY Cameron Boozer. The freshman, who stepped in to replace Cooper Flagg, led the team in points (22.5) — also ninth best in the nation — rebounds (10.2), and assists (4.2) during the regular season.
Beyond the superb play of Boozer, Duke has also gotten big minutes from sophomores Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II. The trio (when healthy) and the team’s elite defense are why the 33-2 team won another ACC title and their first game in the tourney.
