Top 10 favorites for March Madness 2026

68 teams, 67 games, 3 weeks of knockout competition between the best prospects in the world of basketball, with a championship ring at stake! This madness comes straight from the United States. In a few days, the 87th March Madness will take place. It’s a unique moment in the year when surprises are constantly on the cards.

After looking at the 2026 Draft, let’s turn our attention to the NCAA! Despite the influx of upsets that are sure to come, today we’re ranking the 10 favorites for this March Madness.

10) Purdue Boilermakers : For the first time in a long time, Purdue will be the hunter, not the hunted. Hailed as heavy favorites ahead of the season, the Boilermakers have hit some unexpected turbulence. Their three consecutive losses at the end of January raised questions among most observers. Already unimpressed by their start to the season, this unfortunate losing streak has completely redefined Purdue’s place in the hierarchy. It’s important to note that Indiana University had one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten. Many media outlets see this as a blessing in disguise, as the pressure should not be on Purdue this time around. What’s more, Braden Smith’s teammates remain particularly strong. In any given game, the Boilermakers can hold their own against any of the 68 teams in the tournament. For now, they are ranked 10th in our standings. A place in the Final Four still seems a long way off. However, if they go on a good run, their hype could quickly regain momentum.

9) Kansas Jayhawks : Kansas has been DELIGHTING us since the start of the season. From a purely objective point of view, they are the most enjoyable team to watch. It’s been a long time since a team has made us salivate so much. No matter who they’re up against, with the Jayhawks we know what we’re getting: fighting spirit, aggression, and intensity. This extra energy allows them to defeat teams that are, on paper, much more talented. At first, the vast majority of fans were talking about surprises or upsets. But now it’s almost become a habit to defeat teams stronger than themselves in the heart of the United States. Like a hungry cheetah, Kansas hunts its prey, both with and without its star Darryn Peterson on the court. Melvin Council Jr. and Flory Bidunga give the impression that yes, the Jayhawks are contenders for the title. Especially since their superb comeback after their defeat against Virginia in early January showed that this team can get back up after stumbling. And, of course, having our number one pick in the 2026 draft in their ranks helps. However, Kansas has a lower ceiling than its direct competitors, which prevents us from ranking it higher.

8) Iowa State Cyclones : Iowa State’s meteoric rise in the first rounds of the NCAA tournament put them on a par with our seemingly untouchable Big 4. Although the pace has slowed somewhat, it remains particularly high. They started off like a cannonball and have gradually slowed down to a rapid stream. Even when the yellow and red ship rocks during the game, it always ends up reaching its destination. At the same time, Joshua Jefferson—considered one of the best players of the season—brings that extra talent that makes all the difference. His right-hand man is Milan Momcilovic, who has a 3-point shooting percentage of over 50% in more than 180 attempts! Where the Cyclones have lost some of their luster is on the bench. Gone are the XXL entries from the second unit. From now on, rotations are more restricted by necessity than by choice. Iowa remains adept at inflicting +10 or even +20 losses on the big fish on the SST coast. This ability to catch fire is by far the greatest strength of this team. Perhaps this slight lack of solidity and depth could come back to haunt them. In any case, it is for these reasons that we rank them in 8th place.

7) Florida Gators : The tide is turning in the east. Since the start of the year, Florida has gone from potential contender to serious contender in the race for the top spot. This is especially true after their crushing victories against big teams such as South Carolina, Alabama, and Texas A&M. As the weeks go by, the Gators are transforming themselves into a clear benchmark for whether or not their opponents are ready for March Madness. When the answer is no, this team makes it known by cruising through the game without much suspense. But even when the answer is yes, they always find a way to snatch victory. That “way” lies in their accuracy. From both long range and close range, Florida is shooting 10% above the national average. That’s huge at this level. Not only do they miss very few shots, but their physical and dominant frontcourt in the paint provides plenty of second chances. This competitiveness is also evident without the ball, where the Gators are extremely disciplined and always difficult for opposing attackers to handle. Even their schedule—objectively quite easy—works to their advantage. If the shooters maintain their accuracy and the rotation remains productive, Florida clearly has the potential to aim for a Final Four. But this strength is also their greatest weakness. Because at the slightest drop in efficiency, this team could find itself prey to teams that are weaker on paper but more balanced offensively.

6) Illinois Fighting Illini : In Illinois, teamwork takes precedence over individual talent. The strength of this team lies in its diversity of threats. Brad Underwood’s squad is a well-oiled Swiss Army knife. Depending on the matchup, this mechanism can instantly adapt by quickly changing tools. Some days, Keaton Wagler will shine. Other days, it will be power forward David Mirkovic’s turn. Then Andrej Stojakovic will dominate the small guards. This wide offensive range makes this team all the more unpredictable. It is almost impossible to devise a specific plan for the opponent, as the Fighting Illini have such a variety of profiles. The university is fully aware of this strength and does not hesitate to implement a game based on altruism and spacing to find, as the minutes tick by, the player or players who will make the difference during the game. The problem is that this significant advantage faces a major obstacle: injuries! Underwood, Stojakovic, Boswell… Quite a few key players are still searching for their full physical potential. This is obviously a problem with March Madness approaching, as we saw in their ultimately unsuccessful games against Michigan State and Wisconsin. This uncertainty is holding them back in the race for the Top 5.

5) Connecticut Huskies : Need elite shooters? Head to Connecticut! There you’ll find a collection of long-range shooters. Braylon Mullins, Alex Karaban, and Solo Ball will take care of you every night with their excellent mechanics. To take advantage of this superiority in stringing together shots, Dan Hurley deploys a philosophy marked by pick and roll at every turn. The duo of Silas Demary Jr. and Tarris Reed play the role of screen setters. Even though opposing teams are familiar with the Huskies’ approach, it is so effective that 90% of the time it hits the mark. To counter this approach, there is no choice but to send players deep into the backcourt, even if it means losing clarity up front. Overall, UConn has one of, if not the best roster in the country. This is why, despite a particularly strong record, most fans are still left wanting more. Even the head coach of New England shares this view, which shows just how high expectations are. The Huskies clearly need to learn to reduce their turnovers and fouls, and above all, show a better attitude. Connecticut’s nonchalance widens the gap between them and our Top 4.

4) Houston Cougars : In Houston, they believe that “defense wins championships.” Kelvin Sampson has built the best backcourt in this Top 10, without a doubt. Out of more than 60 teams, the Cougars have the second-best defense in the NCAA, conceding less than 70 points per game on average. It is this defensive foundation that has allowed the Cougars to surprise everyone this season. After narrowly missing out on the title last season, most experts were less optimistic about the 2025-2026 campaign. And yet, they seem to be constantly performing at a high level, both collectively and individually. At first, we thought it was just the enthusiasm of the restart, then that it was just a good phase. But today, Houston is clearly a force to be reckoned with in March Madness. A surprise personified by their new star: Kingston Flemings. Ranked 5th in our Mock Draft, the point guard brings that touch of madness that allows the Cougars to put pressure on opposing defenses. A member of the Uzan-Sharp-Flemings trio, he leads a squad ready to defeat any opponent. The questions concern the offense, which is quite rare in the NCAA. When defenses tighten up, will they be able to string together possessions? And if we go further, do they have that player who can carry his team on his back during a suffocating crunch time? That remains to be seen.

3) Duke Blue Devils 🥉 : We know the drill with Duke. Once again, the North Carolina college is sitting atop the favorites’ throne. And once again, a superstar is leading this team. The phenomenal Cooper Flagg has been perfectly replaced by a serious contender for the first pick in the 2026 draft: Cameron Boozer. While the forward may be slightly less talented than his predecessor, he is still a rare gem who is likely to win the Wooden Award. He is a leader who reflects this once again star-studded roster. Unsurprisingly, the Blue Devils have dominated the regular season, and anything less than the title would be a disaster. It would take a huge surprise for Duke not to make the Final Four. They are dominant, incredibly efficient, cool-headed, talented… In short, they have all the ingredients of a champion. However, it is difficult to ignore the question mark over Jon Scheyer. The starting point guard has left us wanting more. And everyone knows how important a solid point guard is in the race for the title. Will this 2025-2026 Duke team break the decade-old curse ? We’ll find out in March. In the meantime, according to our projection, it’s unlikely to happen !

2) Arizona Wildcats 🥈 : Balance is key in Arizona. They have the sixth-best offense and sixth-best defense in the NCAA according to the KenPom rankings. These figures illustrate just how well-rounded this team is. Yet here too, the Wildcats weren’t expected to do so well before the season started. Then they went on to win 18 consecutive games. And now, they are probably the No. 1 team in the country… but not our favorite. Yes, this team has the physical strength, size, half-court defense, and inside dominance necessary to survive in single-elimination games. Yes, the trio of Peat, Burries, and Bradley are each averaging more than 14 points per game. Yes, Arizona has one of the best records despite a particularly tough schedule. But on the other hand, their leaders need to show more consistency in their play. The recent 4-for-18 shooting performance by Koa Peat and Jaden Bradley against KU is just not acceptable at this level of competition. This uncertainty causes them to drop one small position.

1) Michigan Wolverines 🥇 : The Wolverines are our favorites to win it all. Their pace, intensity, size… all that athleticism makes Michigan nearly impossible to keep up with for 40 minutes. They’re so solid that even a layup is a huge challenge against this army of yellow and blue arms. And on offense, the East Coast school relies on Yaxel Lendeborg. He is a versatile forward who is an expert in the art of the double-double. When they take to the court, everyone knows what’s coming. Minute after minute, the mechanism kicks into gear. Like a boa constrictor, the Wolverines slowly wrap themselves around their prey before slowly suffocating them. In Michigan, they know the recipe for defeating the biggest fish in the NCAA like the back of their hand. Our No. 1 contenders seem to have reached the culmination of the project created from scratch by Dusty May. Seeing them fail before the final would be one of the biggest surprises in recent years. In the midst of this magnificent fresco, however, there is one small fly in the ointment. The outlook is indeed bleaker outside the conference. Their performances at TCU in November, Maryland in December, and Penn State in January offer a glimmer of hope to the rest of the teams. But in the end, the Michigan Wolverines are still well on their way to winning the jackpot.