Overview
- ESPN schedules Sunday coverage in Eastern time with SportsCenter at 6 p.m., Bracketology at 7 p.m., the NCAA Women's Selection Special at 8 p.m., followed by Women's Bracketology and a WBIT Selection stream at 9 p.m.
- The men's NCAA Tournament opens with the First Four in Dayton on March 17-18 before the first and second rounds March 19-22, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight March 26-29, and the Final Four and title game April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
- ESPN's Men's and Women's Tournament Challenge entries are open, and USA TODAY offers a printable 2026 bracket plus a free Bracket Challenge and Survivor Pool.
- BetMGM odds reported Thursday list No. 3 Michigan as the title favorite (+325) with projected top seeds Duke, Arizona and Florida close behind.
- Dayton's First Four features the final four at-large teams and the four lowest-rated No. 16 seeds, while the women's Final Four is set for Phoenix with defending champion UConn positioned as a leading contender.