When are March Madness brackets due? Here’s the date, time to fill out your 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While many celebrate the holiday season in December each year, college basketball fans mark their calendars for March. The NCAA tournament is here.
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Bracket season is upon us, and it’s time to start researching schools you may not have even heard of. From Duke to the Sharks of Long Island University, 64 teams will have to win seven games in a row to be crowned NCAA basketball champions.
On the men’s side, Duke’s Cameron Boozer will look to continue his stellar campaign and (most likely) finish his college career with an NCAA championship, as his father Carlos did in 2001. Arizona, led by freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, as well as Michigan, led by its entourage of older players, are vying to make some noise this year.
For the women’s tournament, perennial championship threat UConn is led by sophomore Sarah Strong, who is averaging 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.2 steals while shooting 59.5% from the floor and 40.7% from beyond the arc. It’s hard to stop a player as dominant as her. However, SEC Player of the Year Mikayla Blakes (27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.9 steals, 46.6 FG%, 36.1% 3PT) and Vanderbilt, among others, won’t go down without a fight.
Regardless of whether fans have a team they support, anyone can fill out a bracket. From hardcore college basketball fans to casual fans who only tune in to make their brackets, anyone has a chance to win their bracket pool.
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As everyone fills out their brackets ahead of this year’s March Madness, here’s what you need to know about when brackets are due.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA scores | Field of 68 projections | Printable bracket
When are March Madness brackets due in 2026?
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Men’s bracket: March 19, 12 p.m. ET
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Women’s bracket: March 20, 11 a.m. ET
March Madness brackets will be locked once the first game of the first round for each NCAA Tournament begins.
For the men’s tournament, the Round of 64 is set to commence on Thursday, March 19, with the first game scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. As for the women’s tournament, their first game is set for Friday, March 20 at 11 a.m. ET.
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While the tournaments won’t start until the end of the week, it’s best to get brackets completed before then to avoid any technical issues.
Technically, each tournament will begin with the first four games earlier in the week, but those filling out brackets do not need to pick those games. Once a team wins a first-four game, it will advance to the field of 64 and play again in the next two days.
Printable March Madness bracket
This section will be updated with final bracket once revealed.
Printable March Madness bracket 2026
March Madness bracket predictions
This section will be updated with predictions once brackets are revealed.
