It’s Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament. Here’s who’s in, who’s out and who’s playing where

By CNN Newsource

Published March 15, 2026 5:10 PM

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN

(CNN) — It’s Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament as March Madness fully descends on the sports world.

Here are the seeds, matchups and locations for the First Four and opening round games of the men’s tournament tipping off later on this week.

East

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena on Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina. Duke is the tournament’s top overall seed.
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU on Thursday in Greenville
No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa on Friday in San Diego, California
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 California Baptist University on Friday in San Diego
No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida on Thursday in Buffalo, New York
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State on Thursday in Buffalo
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 University of Central Florida on Friday in Philadelphia
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman on Friday in Philadelphia

West

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island University on Friday in San Diego
No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State on Friday in San Diego
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point on Friday in Portland, Oregon
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii on Friday in Portland
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas/North Carolina State on Thursday in Portland. Texas and North Carolina State will play in the First Four on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State on Thursday in Portland
No. 7 Miami (Florida) vs. No. 10 Missouri on Friday in St. Louis
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens on Friday in St. Louis

Midwest

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 University of Maryland, Baltimore County/Howard on Thursday in Buffalo. UMBC and Howard will play in the First Four on Tuesday in Dayton.
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis on Thursday in Buffalo
No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron on Friday in Tampa, Florida
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra on Friday in Tampa
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU on Friday in Philadelphia. Miami and SMU will play in the First Four on Wednesday in Dayton.
No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State on Friday in Philadelphia
No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara on Friday in St. Louis
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State on Friday in St. Louis

South

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh on Friday in Tampa. Prairie View A&M and Lehigh will play in the First Four on Wednesday in Dayton
No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa on Friday in Tampa
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese on Thursday in Oklahoma City
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy on Thursday in Oklahoma City
No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU on Thursday in Greenville
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 University of Pennsylvania on Thursday in Greenville
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M on Thursday in Oklahoma City
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho on Thursday in Oklahoma City

Last four in, first four out for the men’s bracket

The CBS broadcast revealed on Sunday that the last four teams put into the bracket were North Carolina State, Texas, SMU and Miami (Ohio). The first four teams left out of the bracket were Oklahoma, Auburn, San Diego State and Indiana.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

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