- Men's College Basketball
Keeping tabs on each men’s team that has clinched a spot in 2026 March Madness.
by Mark SchofieldUpdated Mar 12, 2026, 12:54 AM UTC
Mar 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) drives the ball around NC State Wolfpack forward Darrion Williams (1) during the first half at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.March is upon us.
Selection Sunday is fast approaching, but before bubble teams start sweating out the announcement of the brackets, they have one last chance to clinch a spot in the field.
Conference tournaments are underway, and 31 automatic bids to the NCAA tournament field are up for grabs. For those 31 teams, they can rest assured on Selection Sunday that they will hear their school called as the brackets are unveiled.
For the rest of the teams, they will be left to sweat it out as the other 36 teams are announced.
First Four games take place on March 17 and 18 in Dayton, Ohio. The First Round of the men’s NCAA tournament begins on March 19.
For a look at teams with some work to do in their respective conference tournaments, we have you covered here. We also have this great piece on why we need March Madness more than ever.
Now, here are the teams that have secured an automatic bid to the men’s NCAA tournament. This will be updated as teams clinch spots in the field. Long Island University clinched the first automatic bid on Saturday, when they advanced to the NEC Championship Game against Mercyhurst. While that title game will not take place until Monday, Mercyhurst is ineligible for the NCAA tournament, as they are still transitioning from Division II status to Division I status. The Lakers cannot receive the automatic bid even if they defeat LIU in the NEC Championship Game.
Auto bids for the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament
Here are the teams that have clinched spots in the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament:
Conference
Schedule
Automatic Bid
Location
America EastQuarterfinals: March 7Semifinals: March 10Championship: 11 a.m. ET March 14 on ESPN2Higher seed hostsAmericanFirst Round: March 11Second Round: March 12Quarterfinals: March 13Semifinals: March 14Championship: 3:15 p.m. March 15 on ESPNBirmingham, Ala.Atlantic 10First Round: March 11Second Round: March 12Quarterfinals: March 13Semifinals: March 14Championship: 1 p.m. March 15 on CBSPittsburgh, Pa.ACCFirst Round: March 10Second Round: March 11Quarterfinals: March 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: 8:30 p.m. March 14 on ESPNCharlotte, N.C.ASUNFirst Round: March 4Quarterfinals: March 6Semifinals: March 7Championship: 2 p.m. March 8 on ESPN2Queens (NC)Jacksonville, Fla.Big 12First Round: March 10Second Round: March 11Quarterfinals: March 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: 6 p.m. March 14 on ESPNKansas City, Mo.Big EastFirst round: March 11Quarterfinals: March 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: 6:30 p.m. March 14 on FOXNew York CityBig SkyFirst Round: March 7Second Round: March 8Quarterfinals: March 9Semifinals: March 10Championship: 11:30 p.m. March 11 on ESPN2Boise, IdahoBig SouthFirst Round: March 4Quarterfinals: March 6Semifinals: March 7Championship: 12 p.m. March 8 on ESPN2High PointJohnson City, Tenn.Big TenFirst Round: March 10Second Round: March 11Third Round: March 12Quarterfinals: March 13Semifinals: March 14 Championship: 3:30 p.m. March 15 on CBSChicagoBig WestFirst Round: March 11Quarterfinals: March 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: March 14Henderson, Nev.CAAFirst Round: March 6Second Round: March 7Quarterfinals: March 8Semifinals: March 9Championship: 7 p.m. March 10 on CBSSNHofstraWashington, D.C.Conference USAFirst Round: March 10Quarterfinals: March 11 and 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: 8:30 p.m. March 14 on CBSSNHuntsville, Ala.Horizon LeaguePlay-in: March 2First Round: March 4Second Round: March 8Semifinals: March 9Championship: 7 p.m. March 10 on ESPNWright StateHigher seed hosts first three rounds, Indianapolis for last two roundsIvy LeagueSemifinals: March 14Championship: 12 p.m. March 15 on ESPN2Ithaca, N.Y.MAACFirst Round: March 5Quarterfinals: March 6 and 7Semifinals: March 8Championship: March 10 on ESPN/ESPN2SienaAtlantic City, N.J.MACQuarterfinals: March 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: 8 p.m. March 14 on ESPN2Cleveland, OhioMEACQuarterfinals: March 11 and 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: March 14Norfolk, Va.Missouri ValleyFirst Round: March 5Quarterfinals: March 6Semifinals: March 7Championship: 12 p.m. March 8 on CBS SportsUNISt. LouisMountain WestFirst Round: March 11Quarterfinals: March 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: 6 p.m. March 14 on CBSLas VegasNortheastQuarterfinals: March 4Semifinals: March 7Championship: 7 p.m. March 10 on ESPN2/ESPN+LIUHigher seed hostsOhio ValleyFirst Round: March 4Quarterfinals: March 5Semifinals: March 6Championship: 9 p.m. March 7 on ESPN2Tennessee StateEvansville, Ind.Patriot LeagueFirst Round: March 3Quarterfinals: March 5Semifinals: March 8Championship: March 11LehighHigher seed hostsSECFirst Round: March 11Second Round: March 12Quarterfinals: March 13Semifinals: March 14Championship: 1 p.m. March 15 on ESPNNashville, Tenn.SoConFirst Round: March 6Quarterfinals: March 7Semifinals: March 8Championship: 7 p.m. March 9FurmanAsheville, N.C.SouthlandFirst Round: March 8Quarterfinals: March 9Semifinals: March 10Championship: 5 p.m. March 11 on ESPN2McNeeseLake Charles, La.SWACFirst Round: March 9Second Round: March 10Quarterfinals: March 11 and 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: 7:30 p.m. March 14AtlantaSummit LeagueOpening Round: March 4Quarterfinals: March 5 and 6 Semifinals: March 7Championship: 9 p.m. March 8 on CBSSNNorth Dakota StateSioux Falls, S.D.Sun BeltFirst Round: March 3Second Round: March 4Third Round: March 5Fourth Round: March 6Quarterfinals: March 7Semifinals: March 8Championship: 6 p.m. March 9 on ESPN/ESPNTroyPensacola, Fla.West CoastFirst Round: March 5Second Round: March 6Third Round: March 7Quarterfinals: March 8Semifinals: March 9Championship: 9 p.m. March 10GonzagaLas VegasWACFirst Round: March 11Quarterfinals: March 12Semifinals: March 13Championship: March 14Las VegasSee More:- Men's College Basketball
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