When the ball was tipped Tuesday to commence the 2026 edition of the NCAA men’s tournament, 68 teams were vying to win it all. Now, six days later, that number has dwindled to 16.
For as much criticism as this edition of the tournament has rightly taken for its chalkiness, it has not lacked for surprises. No. 11 Texas is in the Sweet 16 after starting its run in the First Four, having knocked out No. 6 BYU and No. 3 Gonzaga. No. 9 Iowa’s win over No. 1 Florida was a stunning upset—the first by a No. 9 seed over a No. 1 seed in eight years. Even some of the higher seeds—No. 2 Houston, No. 2 Iowa State and No. 4 Nebraska, for instance—can be credibly regarded as long-suffering.
