March Madness® has officially arrived, and the 2026 NCAA® Tournament bracket is set. With 68 teams chasing a national championship, fans everywhere are debating which squads are truly the best heading into the Big Dance. Our NCAA Basketball Power Rankings break down the top teams in the country based on recent performance, momentum and championship potential.
This year’s tournament features an incredible mix of powerhouse programs, breakout teams, future NBA Draft picks, and rising WNBA stars.
While earning a No. 1 seed is a major accomplishment, the NCAA Tournament proves every year that seeding isn’t everything. A No. 3 seed that has caught fire in the last month or a No. 8 seed riding the momentum of a conference tournament title can be just as dangerous — and ready to pull off a March Madness upset.
As you fill out your bracket, these college basketball power rankings will help you identify the hottest teams in the country and spot potential Cinderella runs before they happen. It’s the most wonderful time of the year in college hoops — and DIRECTV is your home for every moment of the NCAA Tournament.
How to Watch the NCAA® Tournament
DIRECTV is your home for every minute of March Madness®.
Men’s games will be aired on:
- CBS (find your local affiliate channel)
- TNT (Channel 245)
- TBS (Channel 247)
- TruTV (Channel 246)
Women’s games will be aired on:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ABC (find your local affiliate channel)
2026 Men’s NCAA® Tournament Power Rankings
Our 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament Power Rankings break down the top teams in the March Madness bracket, ranking every contender based on momentum, talent and championship potential entering the NCAA Tournament.
Duke Blue Devils (29-2)
Seed: 1
After a Final Four appearance last season, Duke has been among the top 5 all season and claimed the top spot with a win over then-No. 1 Michigan at home. They wrapped up their year with a win against number 11 Virginia and another against their archrival North Carolina, who claimed one of their only losses on the season.
Duke is led by Cameron Boozer, who leads the team in points, rebounds and assists and is poised to be one of the top 3 picks in next year’s NBA draft. The do-it-all freshman will undoubtedly be the player to watch for the Blue Devils. Coach Jon Scheyer has improved in every season, but every season carries championship expectations, too.
Arizona Wildcats (29-2)
Seed: 1
Arizona dropped two straight to Kansas and Texas Tech at the start of April but responded with four wins over Top 25 teams over the final two weeks of the season, including an impressive double-digit win at then number two Houston.
Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries and Anthony Dell’Orso have alternated playing key scoring roles down the stretch of the season. Another player to keep an eye on down the stretch is Koa Pete. The freshman dropped 30 in his college debut against #3 Florida at the beginning of the season. Arizona is looking to build off a Sweet Sixteen exit last season.
Michigan Wolverines (29-2)
Seed: 1
A top five team for much of 2025-2026, a home loss to Duke has been one of the only blemishes of the new year for Michigan. They’ve earned wins over Nebraska, Michigan State, Purdue and then down the stretch, Illinois and Michigan State.
Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. have been the stars of late. Johnson Jr. had a monster game against Illinois. Elliott Cadeau is one of the top playmakers in the country. This is a team that has been battle tested all season and will be ready for a fight in March.
UConn Huskies (27-4)
Seed: 2
After starting the season 22-1, UConn has stumbled down the stretch of the regular season with three of their losses coming in the final eight games. Though a huge blowout win over St. John’s will allow them to operate with enough confidence heading into the Big East tournament.
Silas Demary Jr., Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban are the players to watch for UConn. Dan Hurley is seeking his third NCAA tournament win in the last four years.
Florida Gators (25-6)
Seed: 1
Florida went into the SEC tournament as the number one seed and winners of 11 straight. The defending champions look different than they did a year ago, but just as dangerous.
Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Xaivian Lee have alternated as leading scorers over the last month, with Rueben Chinyelu cleaning up everything on the boards. Lee is also averaging seven assists per game over the last month.
Houston Cougars (26-5)
Seed: 2
Heading into the Big Ten tournament, Houston was the winner of three straight, but they’ll be looking for revenge against just about any team they come across in the conference tournament. Since the start of the new year, Houston has lost to Texas Tech, Iowa State, Arizona and Kansas.
For Houston, freshman Kingston Flemings has been a revelation. In a loss against Texas Tech, he dropped a career high 42 points to go along with six assists. Chase McCarty is another player to watch. Emanuel Sharp has cooled off over the last month, but March Madness is a brand-new season.
Michigan State Spartans (25-6)
Seed: 3
Michigan State had won five straight heading into a season finale meeting with Michigan and ultimately came up short to end the year, their second loss to the rival Wolverines of the season. Outside of those two matchups, Michigan State has won against Purdue and Illinois, but will hope to use the Big Ten tournament to get some revenge over their rivals and some more momentum heading into the tournament.
Jaxon Kohler has caught fire of late, averaging nearly 20 points per game over the last three. Jeremy Fears Jr. is averaging 15 points and eight assists over the last five.
This is a team with talent and excellent coaching, which is a fearsome combination in the madness of March.
Illinois Fighting Illini (24-7)
Seed: 3
Illinois has had a choppy finish to the season. Losses to Michigan State, back-to-back overtime losses to Michigan State and Wisconsin made for a rough start to February, and back-to-back losses to UCLA in overtime and Michigan ended it. Illinois suffered three one possession overtime losses in February with another loss to Michigan mixed in.
With Andrej Stojakovic back in the lineup and looking more comfortable, it’s possible that those four losses in six games is a blip for the Fighting Illini. Between Stojakovic, Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic, Illinois can score with multiple players that can put up points. Wagler, the freshman from Kansas, dropped 46 in a road win against #4 Purdue.
Few things are more dangerous in March than teams with big game talent.
Iowa State Cyclones (25-6)
Seed: 2
Iowa State limped to the finish line of the regular season. Back-to-back wins over Kansas and Houston in mid-February were quickly wiped away by losses to BYU, Texas Tech and Arizona. They need to turn things around and fast if they want a chance in this conference championship and some momentum heading into the tournament.
If they’re going to do it, it’s going to be senior forward Joshua Jefferson and point guard Tamin Lipsey. Ideally, Milan Momcilovic will round back into his scoring form.
Purdue Boilermakers (23-8)
Seed: 2
Few teams in the top 25 had a worse last few weeks than Purdue. They lost three in a row in January to UCLA, Illinois and Indiana. Then they won four straight to steady the ship and lost four out of their next six to Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
If there’s any consolation, five of those losses have been by six or fewer points, so this team has the grit and talent to be in every game. They need Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn and C.J. Cox to form a veteran squad that can help this team keep its sanity, even in choppy waters.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (26-5)
Seed: 4
Nebraska started 20-0 before losing five of their last 10, including three to ranked opponents: Michigan, Illinois and Purdue. Pryce Sandfort will be the X-Factor for the Cornhuskers.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (28-3)
Seed: 3
Graham Ike is the Bulldog to keep an eye on. Gonzaga’s leading scorer over their last nine and a menace on the boards, the senior will be the difference if this overlooked Gonzaga team is going to make a run.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-9)
Seed: 5
Two straight losses to end the year will leave a bitter taste in their mouths heading into the Big 12 tournament. But between Donovan Atwell, JT Toppin and Christian Anderson, this three-headed-monster has top 10 talent. JT Toppin is 11th in the nation in scoring and seventh in rebounds per game. Christian Anderson is third in the nation in assists and averaging just under 20 points per game over his last five.
Kansas Jayhawks (22-9)
Seed: 4
An iffy end to the season saw them go 2-2 against top five opponents. They split a two-game series with Arizona, won at home against Houston but got blown out on the road at Iowa State.
They’re one of the best coached teams in the country. Freshman Darryn Peterson and senior Tre White will be what carries them through the Big 12 championship.
Alabama Crimson Tide (23-8)
Seed: 4
A loss to Georgia broke an eight-game win streak, but Alabama has one of the best chances to take down No. 1 seed Florida in the SEC. Latrell Wrightsell, Aden Holloway and Labaron Philon Jr. have the talent to match up against most teams in the country.
Virginia Cavaliers (27-4)
Seed: 3
Virginia is 11-2 down the stretch, but their only two losses were to ranked opponents. They are underdogs entering the conference tournament and likely in the bracket itself.
Arkansas Razorbacks (23-8)
Seed: 4
Arkansas is 7-2 since the start of February, but both losses have been to ranked teams, including a brutal double overtime loss in Alabama by two.
Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. is top 10 in the nation in points per game and has the type of talent that can win his team a game. Trevon Brazile and Meleek Thomas will provide ancillary scoring to take pressure off the young guard.
North Carolina Tar Heels (24-7)
Seed: 6
North Carolina missed out on a series sweep to Duke to end the season, but UNC went 3-1 against ranked opponents since the start of the new year. Coach Hubert Davis will have this team ready for big games. But will they find themselves caught in a trap game early on against a lower-seeded opponent?
Tennessee Volunteers (21-10)
Seed: 6
Tennessee lost three of their last four, including home games against Vanderbilt and Alabama. All three losses were by a combined 10 points. In fact, their last five losses have all been by four points or less.
The optimistic view is that this is the kind of bad luck that can turn on its head. And if it does, Jakobi Gillespie, Amari Evans and JP Estrella are going to be big reasons why.
St. John’s Red Storm (25-6)
Seed: 5
A win over #3 UConn in early February was the crown jewel of a 13-game winning streak for St. John’s to start the new year. UConn then got its revenge in their season rematch with a 32-point blowout.
St. John’s will be a sleeper favorite for many with Rick Pitino at the helm. Zuby Ejiofor, Ian Jackson and Bryce Hopkins will need to have a strong tournament to bring a championship back to the university.
Vanderbilt Commodores (24-7)
Seed: 5
Vanderbilt started 16-0 but went just 8-7 over the final month and a half of the season, including losses to Florida and Arkansas.
This team goes as Tyler Tanner goes. The sophomore guard is averaging 19 points per game and has come up big in multiple games this year. Devin McGlockton and Jalen Washington are each averaging seven rebounds per game over the last five.
Saint Mary’s Gaels (27-4)
Seed: 7
St. Mary’s ended their season on an eight-game winning streak, punctuated by a win over #9 Gonzaga in the season finale. Mikey Lewis and Paulius Murauskas have caught fire over the last month to make the Gaels a Cinderella darling in March.
Wisconsin Badgers (22-9)
Seed: 5
Wisconsin was on the outskirts of the top 25 for much of the season, but since the new year, they’ve beaten Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State and Purdue to make for one of the strongest finishes of any team in the country.
John Blackwell, Braeden Carrington and Nick Boyd have gone white hot over the last month, and these Badgers are ready to shock the men’s college basketball world.
Louisville Cardinals (22-9)
Seed: 6
Three straight losses to ranked opponents in Virginia, Duke and UNC helped create a bitter taste, but the Cardinals ended the season with a win over #22 Miami on the road.
For the Cardinals, Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell and Adrian Woolley have the potential to win big games, but they need a strong performance in the ACC tournament to show they deserve a higher seed.
Miami (OH) RedHawks (31-0)
Seed: 11
The sole undefeated team in the top 25, Miami (OH) has yet to play a ranked team. But do not let their smaller conference fool you. They have all the makings of a classic Cinderella team. Peter Suder and Eian Elmer will be what gets this team to the ball.
2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament Power Rankings
Our 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament Power Rankings rank the top teams in the March Madness bracket based on recent performance, star power and their chances of making a deep run to the Final Four.
UConn Huskies (33-0)
Seed: 1
The Huskies are the sole undefeated team left in the country. This marks UConn’s ninth undefeated regular season since 1990. Although they’ve faced few ranked opponents, sophomore Sarah Strong and future WNBA lottery pick Azzi Fudd form one of the best 1-2 combinations in college basketball. The defending champs will undoubtedly be the favorites in this year’s tournament.
UCLA Bruins (31-1)
Seed: 1
A late November loss to Texas is the lone blemish on the UCLA schedule. Since February, they’ve won five games against top-13 opponents. Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice are leading the way, and both are projected to be top-10 picks in the 2026 WNBA draft. They’ll play huge roles in the Bruins’ run toward a national championship. Their 96-45 blowout win over Iowa in the Big Ten championship is about as much positive momentum as you could ask for.
Texas Longhorns (31-3)
Seed: 1
The Longhorns finished 31-3, including five straight wins to end the season and a blowout victory over South Carolina in the SEC championship game. Texas has been one of the nation’s best teams all year and Madison Booker has been the major reason why. Jordan Lee, Kyla Oldacre and Brea Cunningham have formed a great supporting cast.
South Carolina Gamecocks (31-3)
Seed: 1
After finishing the regular season on a 10-game winning streak, South Carolina was cruising until they ran into Texas in the SEC championship game. While it’s not how they wanted to close out their season, the Gamecocks will be one of the nation’s top seeds heading into the NCAA tournament. Madina Okot, Joyce Edwards and Raven Johnson have been the answers over the last month and a half and they will be key to keeping the Gamecocks in championship contention.
LSU Tigers (27-5)
Seed: 2
LSU suffered three of their five losses in the last month of the season, including a loss to Texas and two to South Carolina (one of which was in the SEC tournament). The consolation is that all three losses were by single digits. The Tigers continue to get high-quality scoring from Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. This is a team with championship pedigree led by a championship coach and could once again find themselves among the last teams standing in March.
Vanderbilt Commodores (27-3)
Seed: 2
Vanderbilt had won seven of eight going into the SEC championship, including three wins against Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas and five wins over ranked teams overall. But they were bounced immediately by Ole Miss in the SEC tournament and will be looking for some revenge come bracket time. Mikayla Blakes will determine how far they go. The sophomore guard is averaging 27 points per game and scored 30 in seven of the last eight games.
Duke Blue Devils (24-8)
Seed: 3
Duke won their second straight ACC tournament with an overtime win over Louisville in the finals. Duke has had some tough stretches during the regular season, including three straight losses to South Carolina, UCLA and LSU, but responded with a 17-game win streak. That combined with another ACC title will have Duke rolling with confidence into March Madness.
West Virginia Mountaineers (27-6)
Seed: 4
West Virginia claimed the Big 12 championship with a win over No. 10 TCU. That makes seven straight and 11 of their last 12 for the Mountaineers as they look to make waves in the tournament. Seniors Jordan Harrison, Kierra Wheeler and Sydney Shaw lead an experienced team and along with Gia Cooke, all average 12+ points per game.
Michigan Wolverines (25-6)
Seed: 2
Michigan was just six total points away from a very different-looking season. The Wolverines had one of the toughest end-of-season stretches of any team. Eight of their final 13 games were against top 25 teams and they went 5-3 against ranked opponents. Two of those losses came by just three points. Michigan might not crack the top two seeds in the bracket but will be one of the most dangerous teams with elite scoring from Olivia Olson and playmaking from Mila Holloway and Syla Swords.
Oklahoma Sooners (24-7)
Seed: 4
Oklahoma was riding a seven-game winning streak into an SEC tournament matchup with LSU before suffering a lopsided loss. The Sooners have struggled against some of the nation’s best teams and will need Raegan Beers, Aaliyah Chavez and Payton Verhulst to play at their peak come tournament time.
TCU Horned Frogs (29-5)
Seed: 3
TCU had won eight straight going into the Big 12 tournament final but lost to West Virginia. The Horned Frogs are led by Marta Suarez, who’s averaging 17 points a game, and Olivia Miles, who’s averaging 19. She dropped a season-high 40 against number 12 Baylor at the beginning of February. They may not be the favorites entering March, but they are one of the top sleeper teams.
Iowa Hawkeyes (26-6)
Seed: 2
Iowa had won eight straight heading into the Big Ten final, including two wins against Michigan, but got beat up by the UCLA Bruins, losing by nearly 50. The Hawkeyes will need to shake that off quickly as they will turn to Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke to do it.
Minnesota Gophers (22-8)
Seed: 4
Minnesota took a nine-game winning streak into the closing week of the season but was bounced in the first round by Ohio State. The Gophers have climbed from unranked to the top 20 behind the play of Grace Grocholski, Mara Braun, Sophie Hart and Amaya Battle. This is a deep roster with a lot of experience.
Maryland Terrapins (23-8)
Seed: 5
Maryland fell in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament after closing the season with a loss to Michigan on the road. The Terrapins have an uphill battle and if they make a deep run, Oluchi Okananwa will be a major reason why.
Ohio State Buckeyes (26-7)
Seed: 3
Playing in the Big Ten means going against some of the nation’s best, and Ohio State has faced 10 top-25 opponents since the new year. Ultimately, they fell in the Big Ten semifinals. But with sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge and senior Elsa Lemmilä, this team has the potential to pop off in a game. Cambridge’s 41-point game against Illinois back in January is a prime example of that.
North Carolina Tar Heels (26-7)
Seed: 4
North Carolina rode a four-game win streak, including a win over No. 12 Duke, into the ACC tournament but lost in the second round to Louisville. The Tar Heels have struggled against ranked opponents, and they’ll need Elina Aarnisalo, Nyla Harris and Lanie Grant at their peak powers in order to reverse that trend.
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Frequently asked questions
Which men's college basketball teams are No. 1 seed for 2026 March Madness?
The Duke Blue Devils, Arizona Wildcats, Florida Gators and Michigan Wolverines are the four No. 1 seeded teams in the March Madness 2026 tournament.
Which women's college basketball teams are No. 1 seed for 2026 March Madness?
The UConn Huskies, UCLA Bruins, Texas Longhorns and South Carolina Gamecocks are the four No. 1 seeded teams in the Women's March Madness 2026 tournament.
Which teams are predicted to make it all the way in the March Madness Tournament?
For the Men's Tournament, experts are watching Houston, UConn & Auburn. As for the Women's Tournament, South Carolina, Notre Dame & UCLA are expected to perform well.
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