Share
Open Extended Reactions
Much like last season, the true national title contenders have separated themselves into a tier of their own entering the 2026 men's NCAA tournament.
Arizona and Michigan established themselves in the opening weeks of the season, and Duke definitively joined them after beating the Wolverines in Washington, D.C. in February. And, similar to last season, Florida surged in SEC play and has emerged as a clear threat to repeat its title.
In 2025, the tier break between the favorites and everyone else resulted in all four 1-seeds reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2008.