March Madness Sweet 16 2026 – Texas Upsets Gonzaga and Your Complete Bracket Guide

March Madness Sweet 16 2026 is here Your bracket is broken. Again.

You picked Gonzaga to reach the Sweet 16. Millions of people did. Gonzaga was the No. 3 seed – one of the most experienced programmes in college basketball, coached by Mark Few, who has won more NCAA Tournament games than any coach in history without a national championship.

And last night, a No. 11 seed from Texas – a team that almost did not even make the tournament walked into that game and ended Gonzaga’s season.

No. 11 seed Texas is going to the Sweet 16 after picking up an upset 74-68 win over No. 3 seed Gonzaga – nearly two dozen consecutive favourites had won to open the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but that streak ended Saturday night.

This is why your family watches March Madness. Not because you know what is going to happen. Because you never do. Here is everything that happened this weekend – and what is coming next in the greatest sports tournament on earth.

Texas – The Cinderella Story Nobody Saw Coming

Texas squeaked into the tournament field as one of the last four in and was relegated to the First Four. Since then, it has edged NC State in the First Four, vanquished No. 6 BYU and AJ Dybantsa in the first round and now won a second-round thriller over Gonzaga that required a late three from previously scoreless Camden Heide to seal the deal.

Think about what that means. Texas was so close to not making the tournament at all that they had to play an extra game just to earn a spot in the bracket. Three wins later – against NC State, against a BYU team led by one of the nation’s best players, and against a Gonzaga programme that has been to nine consecutive Sweet 16s – the Longhorns are dancing into the second weekend.

Camden Heide hits the trey to ice No. 11 Texas’ win over Gonzaga and send the Longhorns to the Sweet 16 – the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament has been whittled to 32 teams with their eyes set on the Sweet 16.

Texas is now the sixth team to go from the First Four to the Sweet 16, joining VCU, UCLA, Syracuse, La Salle and Tennessee. VCU and UCLA made it all the way to the Final Four before losing in the national semifinals.

The precedent is extraordinary. VCU. UCLA. Both First Four teams that made the Final Four. If you have Texas in your bracket going to Indianapolis – you are not crazy. History says it is possible.

The big hitter of the day was when No. 11 Texas upset No. 3 Gonzaga, bringing the total number of perfect brackets down to 27.

Twenty-seven perfect brackets remaining. Out of the millions that were submitted on Selection Sunday. If yours is not one of them – and it almost certainly is not – welcome to the club. That is exactly how March Madness is supposed to feel.

All Eight Saturday Sweet 16 Teams – What Happened

Saturday March 21 produced eight Sweet 16 berths – and the results confirmed some of what we expected, demolished some of what we predicted, and delivered the drama that makes this tournament unlike anything else in sport.

A total of eight Sweet 16 bids flew off the shelf on Saturday as the first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament rolled on.

No. 1 Michigan 95, No. 9 Saint Louis 72 Michigan’s 95-72 win over Saint Louis brought the latest demonstration of Michigan’s unmatchable top gear, as SLU offered a valiant but ultimately hopeless effort. The two-way attack led by bigs Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara simply overwhelmed a skilled but undersized group of Billikens. Michigan looks like a genuine championship contender – dominant, deep, and playing with an ease that should terrify every other team remaining.

No. 1 Duke 81, No. 9 TCU 58 Cameron Boozer scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half to lead Duke to the Sweet 16 with an 81-58 victory over the ninth-seeded Horned Frogs. Duke was wobbly early – TCU took a two-point lead in the second half – but Boozer took over when it mattered. That is what National Player of the Year candidates do. The injury concerns that surrounded Duke entering the tournament appear manageable.

No. 2 Houston 88, No. 10 Texas A&M 57 Houston made quick work of the upstart Aggies in an 88-57 win. A sure-handed group of Houston guards never caved under A&M’s pressure, and the Cougars dominated on the glass with a 19-9 edge in offensive rebounds. After beginning the second half on an 8-0 run, Houston led by at least 20 the rest of the way. Houston is on a mission – and they are playing on their home floor for the Sweet 16 and potentially the Elite Eight. That home court advantage could be decisive.

No. 3 Michigan State 77, No. 6 Louisville 69 Michigan State advances to the Sweet 16 without their star player Mikel Brown Jr., who missed the entire tournament with a back injury. Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr. did not play in the NCAA Tournament – he was ruled out for the entire weekend before his team even played a game. Brown, a projected top-10 pick, showed flashes of why he was such a highly-touted prospect, but only managed to play 21 games.

No. 3 Illinois 76, No. 11 VCU 55 Illinois handled VCU comfortably after a strong first half. Andrej Stojakovic popped off the bench and gave the Illini a major lift with 16 first-half points on just seven shots. The Illini opened the half with a 15-5 right hook and closed the half on a 9-0 left cross.

No. 4 Nebraska 74, No. 5 Vanderbilt 72 The thriller of the night. Nebraska held on as Braden Fraser scored the go-ahead bucket with 2.2 seconds remaining, which left just enough time for Tanner to catch, dribble once then let it fly. It came oh so close to a moment for the history books. Instead, it produced brutal agony for the Commodores that only March Madness can bring. Nebraska reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in programme history.

No. 4 Arkansas 94, No. 12 High Point 88 High Point faltered in its quest to pull off another major upset, as the Panthers fell 94-88 to No. 4 seed Arkansas. The Panthers played with gusto and pushed the Razorbacks until the very end behind a 30-point showing from Rob Martin.

No. 11 Texas 74, No. 3 Gonzaga 68 The biggest result of the tournament so far – covered above in full. Texas has arrived.

Sunday’s Games – Eight More Sweet 16 Spots Available Toda

Sunday March 22 features eight second round games. At 12:10 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) on CBS. At 2:45 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 7 Kentucky on CBS. At 5:15 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 5 St. John’s on CBS. At 6:10 p.m.: No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 6 Tennessee on TNT. At 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Iowa on TBS. At 7:50 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 9 Utah State on truTV. At 8:45 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 7 UCLA on TNT. At 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 5 Texas Tech on TBS.

The game to watch: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Iowa Florida is the defending national champion — back as a No. 1 seed, playing in the South Region where Houston awaits in the Sweet 16 on Houston’s home floor. Iowa is a No. 9 seed that has nothing to lose. Upset alert is fully in effect.

The game to watch: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 7 UCLA Houston’s seeking its first-ever national championship after repeated deep runs under Sampson. The South Regional semifinals and finals will be played in Houston, less than three miles from the university’s campus. UConn is the most dangerous No. 2 seed in the field — a programme that has won national championships in 2023 and 2024. UCLA is a team that knows how to win in March. This is the best game on Sunday’s slate.

The Complete Sweet 16 Schedule – Mark Your Calendar

The Sweet 16 begins Thursday March 26 and continues Friday March 27. The Elite Eight follows Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29. The Final Four is Saturday April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The National Championship Game is Monday April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Already confirmed for the Sweet 16:

• No. 1 Michigan vs. Winner of Alabama-Texas Tech
• No. 1 Duke vs. Winner of UConn-UCLA
• No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois
• No. 3 Michigan State vs. Winner of Iowa State-Kentucky
• No. 4 Nebraska vs. Winner of Florida-Iowa
• No. 4 Arkansas vs. Winner of Arizona-Utah State
• No. 11 Texas vs. Winner of Purdue-Miami
• Eight more spots still being decided today

Who Is Going to Win It All? Honest Predictions

Based on what we have seen through two rounds – here are the most likely Final Four teams and a champion prediction.

Michigan is the most complete team in the tournament. Dominant inside, deep on the perimeter, and playing with a confidence that suggests they believe this is their year. If they stay healthy, they are the team to beat.

Duke has Cameron Boozer – the best player in college basketball – and the programme pedigree to navigate pressure moments. The injury question marks are real but manageable. Duke is a genuine title contender.

Houston is playing their Sweet 16 and potentially Elite Eight games less than three miles from campus. Home court advantage at this stage of a tournament cannot be overstated. Houston has been here before. They know how to win these games.

Texas is the wild card. First Four teams have reached the Final Four before. Texas has beaten everyone put in front of them. They will not be intimidated by anyone in the Sweet 16.

Championship prediction: Michigan vs. Duke in the national final – with Michigan winning their first national championship since 1989.

Perfect Bracket Update – Where Things Stand

Just over 14,000 brackets made it past the first day unscathed. Only 224 were a perfect 32-for-32 in the first round. After Saturday’s action with Texas upsetting Gonzaga and Nebraska surviving Vanderbilt just four perfect brackets remain heading into Sunday’s eight second-round games.

Four perfect brackets. Out of millions submitted. That number will almost certainly reach zero before Sunday is over. That is the beautiful, infuriating, utterly addictive mathematics of March Madness – the reason your family fills out brackets every year knowing they will be broken, and does it again the next year anyway.

How to Watch – Complete Guide for USA, UK and Canada Families

Dates run from March 17 to April 6, 2026. TV channels are CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. Streaming options include Paramount+, DirecTV, and the March Madness Live app and more.

For families in the USA: Every game is available on CBS, TBS, TNT, or TruTV. Streaming through Paramount+ covers CBS games for premium subscribers. The March Madness Live app provides access to all tournament games.

For families in Canada: TSN and TSN Direct carry extensive March Madness coverage, with major games broadcast live. The March Madness Live app is available in Canada for streaming access.

For families in the UK: Sky Sports and the ESPN Player app carry select NCAA Tournament games. For comprehensive coverage, VPN access to US streaming services provides the most complete viewing experience.

Sunday’s eight games begin at 12:10 p.m. ET on CBS – with the final tip-off at 9:45 p.m. ET on TBS. If you have not already cleared your Sunday afternoon and evening schedule, now is the time.

6 Tips for Fixing Your Broken Bracket Right Now

One – Accept that Texas might go to the Final Four. First Four teams have reached the Final Four before. Texas has the momentum, the experience, and the match-up advantage. Do not automatically pick the higher seed against them in the Sweet 16.

Two – Watch Florida-Iowa very carefully. Florida is the defending champion. Iowa is a No. 9 seed. But No. 9 seeds win these games – Iowa has already beaten No. 8 Clemson to get here. If Florida loses, the entire South Region opens up dramatically.

Three – Trust Houston at home. Houston playing Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games three miles from campus is an enormous structural advantage. If you have them losing before the Final Four, reconsider.

Four – Do not sleep on UConn. Two-time defending champions playing as a No. 2 seed is remarkable value. Dan Hurley’s teams know how to win in March.

Five – Michigan is the safest bet to reach the Final Four. Of the four remaining No. 1 seeds, Michigan has the clearest path and the most dominant performance so far. They are the most complete team in the tournament.

Six – Keep watching. The second weekend of March Madness – Sweet 16 and Elite Eight – consistently produces the tournament’s most compelling basketball. Clear your schedule for March 26-29. This is where the bracket truly separates the contenders from the pretenders.

Conclusion

Twenty-three consecutive favourites won to open the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Then No. 11 Texas walked into a game against No. 3 Gonzaga and ended the streak – and ended Gonzaga’s season – with a dagger three-pointer from a player who had not scored a single point before that moment.

Texas has been a fun watch and gets at least one more chance to put on a show this tournament – and no one in 1-4 seed territory has been eliminated yet, but Texas is threatening to change that.

That is March Madness 2026 in a single sentence. A No. 11 seed that almost did not make the tournament. A dagger three from a player who could not buy a basket all game. Sixty-eight teams. One champion. And three more weeks of exactly the kind of basketball that makes your family gather around the television and stay there until the final buzzer sounds.

The Sweet 16 begins Thursday March 26. Indianapolis is waiting. Who gets there? Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay one step ahead with SultanNetwork – your trusted source for finance, business, technology, sports and global news, updated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.