Final Four, national champion predictions for the men’s NCAA tournament
After months of debating whether or not prime groups can maintain up, weeks of rigidity over the MAC’s energy of schedule, and days of deliberation over which bubble staff could be overlooked, the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament is lastly underway.
Which staff will win all of it? Before it is settled on the courtroom, we requested 60 of ESPN’s faculty basketball analysts and reporters to make their Final Four and national championship picks.
The outcomes had been not unanimous — the truth is, there have been clear majority votes in solely two of the 4 areas.
Without additional ado, let’s run by means of which our survey individuals imagine they’ve the finest probabilities to chop down the nets in Indianapolis.
Final Four picks
South Region
The South was the solely area through which the No. 1 seed was not the majority alternative to achieve the Final Four. Instead, it was the 2025 national runner-up: No. 2 seed Houston. The Cougars had been the best choice to win the South by 34 of our 60 analysts, together with “College GameDay” personalities Rece Davis, Seth Greenberg and Pete Thamel.
Also on this area: Floridawhich defeated Houston in final season’s national championship; 46.3% of Tournament Challenge gamers have the two conferences in the Elite Eight. Among personalities selecting the defending champions to return to the Final Four are Jeff Borzello, Jay Bilas and Jay Williams.
Eastern Region
The No. 1 general seed duke was the overwhelmingly in style staff to win the East area, with almost two-thirds of the votes (39). Among these selecting the Blue Devils are former head coaches Jim Boeheim and Tom Crean, in addition to ESPN’s chief bracketologist Joe Lunardi, whose last forecast appropriately picked all 68 groups in the area.
It wasn’t unanimous, although, as the remaining 20 votes had been cut up between 4 different groups. Seven picked 3-seeded Michigan Statewhich is trying to return to the Final Four for the first time since 2019. Another seven selected the 2-seeded UConn Huskieswho need to win their third national title in four seasons. Five went with the 5-seeded St. John’s Red Stormwho swept the Big East regular-season and tournament titles from UConn. And solely two took Darryn Peterson and 4-seeded Kansas Jayhawks.
Western Region
If you thought Duke was the dominant alternative in the East, No. 1 Arizona was chosen by 50 respondents to win the West. Among the Wildcat backers are reporters Myron Medcalf and Kris Budden, the latter of whom had a courtside view as Arizona defeated Houston in a detailed Big 12 championship sport final weekend.
The remaining 10 votes had been cut up evenly between the Big Ten champion Purdue Boilermakers (No. 2) and the SEC champion Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 4).
Midwest Region
The prime two seeds — No. 1 Michigan (31 votes) and No. 2 Iowa State (21) — had been the two hottest selections, however there have been extra groups chosen on this area than in the different three.
Never inform “Never Tell Me The Odds” co-host Ryan McGee — or the different 4 voters who chosen No. 3 Virginia — the odds of the Cavs profitable the area. Analyst John Williams was the just one to choose No. 4 Alabama; play-by-play commentator Shawn Kenney was the solely backer of No. 5 Texas Tech; and SEC Network broadcaster Tom Hart noticed sufficient of No. 6 Tennessee to make the Vols their Final Four choice.
National champion picks
Arizona was by far the hottest election with 33 votes. The Wildcats need to win their first national championship since 1997. The second-most-picked staff, Michigan (10 votes), is hoping to finish an excellent longer title drought (since 1989).
Will historical past repeat itself? Four No. 1 seeds making it to the Final Four is a historic rarity, however it occurred final season. Medcalf was the solely one among our specialists to pick out all 4 1-seeds this time, and he’s one among 9 voters rolling with Duke as the national champion.
Last yr, Bilas and Borzello nailed all Final Four picks and the national champion, Florida. This yr, they disagree on two of their area winners, however each have Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats profitable all of it.
Five voters have Florida going back-to-back. Thamel and Boeheim are the solely two who’ve Houston avenging final yr’s loss and eventually profitable the program’s first championship. And just one analyst is taking Purdue.
Follow their picks — or show them incorrect — by making your individual on ESPN Tournament Challenge.
