Jason Burgos
The first two rounds of the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament are in the rearview, and we are now moving on to the Sweet 16. On Thursday, the biggest and best tournament in American sports resumes, but who are the best of the best among the programs left in March Madness? We look to answer that question with our ranking of the Sweet 16 teams set to hit the court this week.
16. 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 and then a massive upset over 1-seed Florida on Sunday. They have a real chance to reach the Elite 8 when they play Nebraska on Thursday.
15. Nebraska
Fred Hoiberg’s 2026 team is his best yet at Nebraska. The Cornhusker emerged as a serious problem in the Big Ten this year after starting the season 20-0, including victories over Illinois and Michigan State. However, they had been up-and-down since the end of January, losing six of their last 13, including surprising setbacks to Iowa and UCLA.
But in the NCAA Tournament, they have made program history by winning their first two and getting to the Sweet 16. They get a very winnable matchup on Thursday against Iowa.
14. Alabama
Alabama can be a problem for any team in the nation on any night because 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. It has played a key role in the program reaching the Sweet 16 after dropping 90 in both of their NCAA Tournament wins.
13. Tennessee
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament has proven why he is a notable prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft. He was second on the team in points and led in rebounds during the regular season. He and senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie have played a huge role in the Vols reaching the Sweet 16, including an upset win over Virginia on Sunday.
12. 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 that scored 83.8 points during the season earned its spot with a First Four win over NC State. They have continued that momentum and are now the Cinderella team in the tourney after scoring huge wins over BYU and Gonzaga in their first two NCAA Tournament matchups.
11. Illinois
Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a force in the Big Ten and a consistent tournament participant. A key reason why they have been a tough out in 2026 and a top-10 caliber team is breakout star Keaton Wagler. However, they did seem to cool off late in the season.
They have overcome that in the NCAA Tournament and have played very well in smashing their way through Penn and VCU to reach the Sweet 16.
10. Arkansas
Arkansas is led by SEC POTY Darius Acuff, Jr., and he has generated 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. Winning the SEC Conference tourney a couple of weeks ago and their first two in the NCAA Tournament.
9. 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. If they are focused, they are very dangerous. However, they have been inconsistent and unpredictable in the second half of the regular season.
To the chagrin of their rivals, the Spartans have looked good in their NCAA Tournament wins, including an impressive showing on Saturday in a victory over Louisville.
8. UConn
It’s another season in college basketball, and UConn is again in contention for a natty this month. 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. While they struggled late in the season, including a pair of losses to St. John’s, the Huskies have played well in their first two tournament wins.
7. Iowa State
In his final season at Iowa State, Joshua Jefferson is creating serious NBA Draft buzz by leading his team not just in points, but also in rebounds and assists. But the Cyclones also have one of the best defenses in the nation, and it played a huge role in their Round of 32 win against Kentucky when their top star was unavailable.
6. Purdue
Purdue has something most elite schools lack: Top players with a boatload of experience. Purdue began the season with an impressive 17-1 record but went through a serious, inconsistent patch for weeks leading up to the Big Ten tourney.
However, the conference tournament champs have been one of the hottest teams in the nation over the last couple of weeks and looked good in their first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
5. 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.
They have continued that hot play in the NCAA Tournament, but needed some last-second heroics to get by Kansas in the Round of 32. The Johnnies get a huge test in the Sweet 16 against Duke.
4. Arizona
Arizona has been impressive throughout the 2025-26 season. Led by some 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.
They have one of the better offenses in the country and used it in decisive victories over LIU and Utah State to begin the tournament.
3. 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, and assists during the regular season.
Beyond the superb play of Boozer, Duke also got big minutes from sophomores Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II. While they have faced real resistance in their first two tournament games, their high-level defense has led them to the Sweet 16.
2. Houston
Kelvin Sampson’s Houston squad is again a serious threat to reach the Final Four next week. Senior Emanuel Sharp has been as important as ever. But if they win the program’s first national championship this year, it will be because of freshman Kingston Flemings, who is emerging as a potential top-five pick in June.
The Cougars have one of the best defenses in the nation and have employed it in a pair of blowout wins last week to get them to the Sweet 16.
1. 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 next week. Big Ten POTY Yaxel Lendeborg leads a dominant front court that had the Wolverines among the 10 best scoring teams in the country during the regular season.
In their first two games of March Madness, they have dominated their foes, including in the Round of 32 against a sleeper Saint Louis team.
