The 2026 NCAA Tournament has reached the Sweet 16 stage after two exciting rounds of March Madness action. With several dramatic finishes and major upsets already shaping the bracket, the remaining teams are now preparing for the next stage of the tournament.
The Sweet 16 games will begin on March 26 as teams move closer to the Final Four. Only a few top seeds remain in contention, while one double-digit seed has managed to survive into the second weekend of the tournament.
Remaining No.1 Seeds in the Sweet 16
| Seed | Team |
|---|---|
| No. 1 | Duke |
| No. 1 | Arizona |
| No. 1 | Michigan |
Three top seeds remain alive heading into the Sweet 16. Duke, Arizona, and Michigan have successfully advanced through the first two rounds and remain strong contenders for the national title.
However, one top seed has already been eliminated from the tournament.
Florida Eliminated in Major Upset
| Team | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (No.1 seed) | Iowa | Lost |
Florida became the first No. 1 seed to be eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Iowa secured the dramatic victory after Alvaro Folgueiras made a three-pointer with only 4.5 seconds remaining in the game. The shot ended Florida’s title defense and created one of the most memorable moments of the tournament so far.
Double-Digit Seed Still Alive
| Seed | Team |
|---|---|
| No. 11 | Texas |
Only one double-digit seed remains in the tournament — the No. 11 Texas Longhorns.
Their presence in the Sweet 16 continues the March Madness tradition of unexpected teams making deep tournament runs.
Perfect Brackets Eliminated
| Bracket Challenge Status | Result |
|---|---|
| Perfect Brackets | 0 Remaining |
After the first two rounds of games, no perfect brackets remain in the national bracket challenges. The combination of upsets and close finishes quickly eliminated all flawless predictions.
Also see: Nate Oats Leads Alabama Past Texas Tech in March Madness Dog Fight, Tide Reach Sweet 16
2026 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Schedule
Thursday, March 26
| Matchup | Location | Time (CT) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue (2) vs Texas (11) | San Jose | 6:10 PM | CBS |
| Nebraska (4) vs Iowa (9) | Houston | 6:30 PM | TBS / truTV |
| Arizona (1) vs Arkansas (4) | San Jose | 8:45 PM | CBS |
| Houston (2) vs Illinois (3) | Houston | 9:05 PM | TBS / truTV |
Friday, March 27
| Matchup | Location | Time (CT) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke (1) vs St. John’s (5) | Washington D.C. | 6:10 PM | CBS |
| Michigan (1) vs Alabama (4) | Chicago | 6:35 PM | TBS / truTV |
| UConn (2) vs Michigan State (3) | Washington D.C. | 8:45 PM | CBS |
| Iowa State (2) vs Tennessee (6) | Chicago | 9:10 PM | TBS / truTV |
One of the most anticipated games in the round features Duke facing St. John’s, creating another meeting between Duke and veteran coach Rick Pitino.
Regional Sites for the Sweet 16
| Region | Location | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | Houston, Texas | Toyota Center | March 26 & 28 |
| West | San Jose, California | SAP Center | March 26 & 28 |
| Midwest | Chicago, Illinois | United Center | March 27 & 29 |
| East | Washington, D.C. | Capital One Arena | March 27 & 29 |
Each regional will determine which teams advance to the Elite Eight before moving on to the Final Four.
Also see: Ben McCollum Reacts After Heated Florida vs Iowa March Madness Clash
Elite Eight Schedule
| Date | Region |
|---|---|
| March 28 | South & West Finals |
| March 29 | East & Midwest Finals |
The Elite Eight will determine the four teams that advance to the Final Four.
Final Four and National Championship
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Final Four | April 4 | Indianapolis |
| National Championship | April 6 | Lucas Oil Stadium |
The Final Four and national championship games will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
With the tournament entering its second weekend, teams now stand only two wins away from reaching the Final Four.
Also Read: Why Bill Murray Was at UCLA vs UConn March Madness Game – Actor Supports Son Luke Murray
As March Madness continues, fans can expect more dramatic finishes, unexpected performances, and the possibility of another Cinderella story emerging before the national champion is crowned in early April.
