Duke, Michigan, Arizona and defending national champion Florida have been named the No. 1 seeds in the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament, with Duke claiming the No. 1 overall seed in the 68-team bracket and topping the East Region.
Michigan will lead the Midwest Region, with regional semifinals and finals in Chicago. Arizona will head the West Region (San Jose, Calif.), and Florida will lead the South Region (Houston). The East Region’s semifinals and finals will be played in Washington, D.C.
Florida, despite losing 91-74 to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament finals, secured a No. 1 seed. If the Gators reach the Elite Eight, they may face a disadvantage as the No. 2 seed in the South, Houston, would be playing at home.
Miami (Ohio), with a 31-1 record, earned an at-large bid as a No. 11 seed but must first defeat SMU in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio.
SMU was selected over Oklahoma and Auburn as one of the last teams in the field. The committee noted that SMU’s recent losses occurred while a key player, B.J. Edwards, was injured and is expected to return for the tournament.
Duke’s region is considered the most loaded, featuring No. 2 seed UConn, No. 3 seed Michigan State, and No. 4 seed Kansas. Arizona’s region includes No. 2 seed Purdue, No. 3 seed Gonzaga, and No. 4 seed Arkansas. Michigan’s region features No. 2 seed Iowa State, No. 3 seed Virginia, and No. 4 seed Alabama. The South Region includes No. 2 seed Houston, No. 3 seed Illinois, and No. 4 seed Nebraska.
Eight conferences earned multiple bids, including the Mid-American Conference with Miami (Ohio) and Akron. The SEC led all conferences with 10 bids, followed by the Big Ten with nine, and the ACC and Big 12 with eight apiece.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the No. 1 seeds in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida are the No. 1 seeds.
Where will the East Regional semifinals and finals be played?
The East Regional semifinals and finals will be played in Washington, D.C.
Which teams were the first two teams left out of the tournament?
Oklahoma and Auburn were the first two teams out of the field.
As the tournament bracket unfolds, which of these top-seeded teams do you believe has the most challenging path to the Final Four?
