Updated March 11, 2026
At-Large Impact
Atlantic Coast second round: No. 7 N.C. State vs. No. 15 Pitt, noon (ESPN2)
The bar simply is not high for the Wolfpack (19-12) to ease the tensions that have built up over the last month while losing four in a row and six out of seven. Beat Pitt (13-19), and there aren’t going any questions about whether N.C. State is in the field to go with a reduced chance to get shipped to Dayton. Lose? It’s still going to take a lot to dislodge the Wolfpack, but a play-in game becomes a real possibility.
Atlantic Coast second round: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 Southern Methodist, approx. 2:30 (ESPN)
The Mustangs (20-12) needed Tuesday’s victory over Syracuse, which snapped a four-game slide. They shouldn’t feel safe just yet, though a second victory over Louisville (22-9) would help re-establish some of the cushion SMU enjoyed until the last two weeks.
Big 12 second round: No. 8 Central Florida vs. No. 9 Cincinnati, approx. 3 (ESPNU)
The metrics say Central Florida (20-10) is safe, and a loss to Cincinnati wouldn’t hurt too much — though in a worst-case scenario filled with bid snatching, the Knights could teeter on the precipice of Dayton. The Bearcats (18-14) beat Utah on Tuesday and have won seven of nine to emerge as a team on the periphery of the at-large discussion. Another victory would keep that conversation alive for another day.
Southeastern second round: No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 13 Mississippi State, approx. 3 (SEC Network)
The Tigers are 16-15 overall, 4-12 in Quad 1 games and owners of the third-toughest schedule in the country. That’s not the profile of an at-large pick in a normal year, but the edge of the field is so wobbly that Auburn has a credible chance to make the field without winning the SEC. Of course, that argument is dashed if Mississippi State (13-18) gets its way.
Big Ten second round: No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 15 Northwestern, 6:30 (BTN)
With Virginia Tech’s loss, the Hoosiers (18-13) take over as the least offensive of the underwhelming resumes currently vying for the last spot in the field. To remain there — for now, at least — beating Northwestern (14-18) is a necessity. That’s no small ask; the Wildcats have won the last six meetings and haven’t dropped a game to Indiana since Archie Miller was still coaching in Bloomington.
Atlantic Coast second round: No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 9 California, 7 (ESPNU)
The Golden Bears (21-10) aren’t a realistic part of the conversation unless they beat Duke in the ACC quarterfinals. Of course, that requires them to handle Florida State (17-14) first.
Southeastern second round: No. 10 Texas vs. No. 15 Mississippi, 7 (SEC Network)
The Longhorns’ 1-4 slide to close the regular season dropped them to 18-13 and put them in peril of getting sent to Dayton for the opening round. That’s also close enough to the cut line for the entire tournament that it’s probably best just to beat Mississippi (12-19) rather than inviting further scrutiny from the committee.
Southeastern second round: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 South Carolina, approx. 9:30 (SEC Network)
The Sooners (17-14) were so busy tripping up Auburn, Missouri and Texas and slowing their marches to the tournament over the last two weeks that they went ahead and gave themselves a bit of postseason hope. Oklahoma needs a deep SEC tournament run to have any kind of at-large chance, and polishing off the Gamecocks (13-18) would be valuable only to get a crack at Texas A&M on Thursday.
Playing For Seeding
Big Ten second round: No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 17 Maryland, noon (Peacock)
Big 12 second round: No. 5 Iowa State vs. No. 12 Arizona State, 12:30 (ESPN)
Southeastern first round: No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 16 Louisiana State, 12:30 (SEC Network)
Big 12 second round: No. 7 West Virginia vs. No. 10 Brigham Young, 7 (ESPNU)
Atlantic Coast second round: No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 13 Wake Forest, approx. 9:30 (ESPN2)
Must-Wins For An At-Large Longshot
Big 12 second round: No. 6 Texas Christian vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State, approx. 9:30 (ESPNU)
One-Bid League Notables
Southwestern Athletic first round: No. 1 Bethune-Cookman vs. No. 8 Prairie View A&M, 2
Bethune-Cookman (17-14) has never been to an NCAA tournament and has one 20-win season in 45 years at the Division I level. The Wildcats have to win three in four days to change both of those, and it starts against Prairie View A&M (15-17), which has won four in a row and six out of seven.
Southland final: No. 1 Stephen F. Austin at No. 2 McNeese State, 5 (ESPN2)
Both the Lumberjacks (28-4) and McNeese State (27-5) were tested in Tuesday’s semifinals. Stephen F. Austin slipped past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 60-58, while McNeese needed three overtimes to eliminate UT Rio Grande Valley. The teams split the regular season series, and the winner of this game likely becomes a popular upset pick next week as a No. 12 seed.
Conference USA quarterfinal: No. 1 Liberty vs. No. 9 Missouri State, 6:30
The Flames (25-6) won their first 15 league games before a 1-3 slide late in the regular season. CUSA is one-bid territory, so Liberty needs a three-game run starting Wednesday against Missouri State (15-17) to make the field.
Patriot League final: No. 4 Boston University at No. 2 Lehigh, 7 (CBS Sports Network)
Both teams enter with 17-16 records and NET rankings in the upper half of the 200s, so whoever wins should pack their bags and prepare to head for Dayton for a game next Wednesday or Thursday. Lehigh hasn’t played in the NCAA tournament since 2012, while Boston University hasn’t since 2011 (though it won the Patriot tournament in 2020).
Big Sky final: No. 4 Montana vs. No. 7 Idaho, 11:30 (ESPN2)
The Grizzlies (18-15) knocked off regular-season champion Portland State for the third time this season in the semifinals, and they’ll aim for their second consecutive NCAA berth while going for an identical three-game sweep of Idaho. The Vandals (20-14) have won four in a row for the first time since 2017-18 and would reach their first NCAA tournament since 1990 with a victory.