The first day of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament delivered a series of upsets, shaking up brackets and setting the stage for a thrilling March Madness. Several higher-seeded teams fell on Thursday, including No. 8 Ohio State, No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 6 North Carolina, and No. 7 Saint Mary’s.
Early Upsets Mark Tournament Start
No. 9 TCU defeated No. 8 Ohio State 66-64 in a closely contested game. TCU held a 15-point lead at halftime, but Ohio State mounted a comeback before Xavier Edmonds secured the win for the Horned Frogs with a shot 4.3 seconds before the final buzzer. TCU, a 2.5-point underdog, advances to the second round for the first time since 2023.
No. 11 Texas upset No. 6 BYU 79-71, led by a strong performance from BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, who scored 35 points and 10 rebounds. Texas coach Sean Miller admitted at halftime that stopping Dybantsa would be tough, stating, “I don’t think One can.” Dybantsa became the first freshman with at least 30 points in his NCAA tournament debut since Stephen Curry in 2007.
In a stunning comeback, No. 11 VCU defeated No. 6 North Carolina 82-78 in overtime. The Tar Heels led by as many as 19 points, but VCU rallied to force overtime and ultimately win with a step-back 3-pointer from Terrence Hill with 15 seconds left.
No. 12 High Point defeated No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82. High Point is making its second NCAA tournament appearance, and this year marks their first advancement to the round of 32. No. 10 Texas A&M beat No. 7 Saint Mary’s 63-50, and No. 9 Saint Louis dominated No. 8 Georgia 102-77, fueled by a 23-0 run through halftime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What teams were upset on the first day of the tournament?
No. 8 Ohio State, No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 6 North Carolina, No. 7 Saint Mary’s, and No. 6 BYU were all defeated on the first day of the tournament.
Who won the game between TCU and Ohio State?
No. 9 TCU defeated No. 8 Ohio State 66-64.
What was notable about the Texas vs. BYU game?
BYU’s AJ Dybantsa scored 35 points and 10 rebounds, and Texas coach Sean Miller said at halftime that he didn’t think his team could stop him.
Will any of these early upsets foreshadow a tournament filled with unexpected results?
