Bracketology: 2026 NCAA Tournament committee faces challenges with Michigan, Houston, Florida in same region
CBS Sports
by
David Cobb
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The NCAA Tournament selection committee has faced significant challenges in creating this year's bracket, particularly with the highly competitive Midwest Regional featuring top-tier teams like Michigan, Houston, and Florida. These three programs, ranked among the top 10 seeds, highlight the difficulties of adhering to traditional bracketing principles amid ongoing conference realignment and consolidation. The committee aimed to distribute top teams from the same conference into different regions, but the s-curve format naturally led to a stacked Midwest with Michigan as the No. 1 seed, Houston as No. 6, and Florida as No. 9.
The Midwest Regional's makeup underscores the complexities of modern bracket creation, where conference affliations and team rankings often collide in ways that test traditional rules. For instance, while Purdue and Illinois were separated from Michigan to avoid same-conference matchups early on, Houston's placement in the Midwest was deemed necessary due to its ranking as a No. 6 seed and the lack of viable alternatives in other regions. Similarly, Florida's inclusion followed the s-curve format, ensuring it aligned with Michigan despite both teams being ranked highly.
This regional setup has sparked intrigue among college basketball fans, as it creates potential for thrilling matchups early in the tournament. The presence of three top-10 seeds in a single region adds an element of unpredictability, making the Midwest Regional one of the most anticipated and challenging regions to navigate. For sports enthusiasts, this highlights the importance of strategic planning by the selection committee and the impact conference dynamics have on bracket construction.
The challenges faced by the committee also reflect broader shifts in college basketball's competitive landscape, with conferences like the Big Ten and Big 12 dominating seed distributions due to their strong overall performances. This has left teams from other conferences, such as the SEC and ACC, fighting for visibility and favorable placements. As a result, the 2026 NCAA Tournament promises to be one of the most unpredictable and exciting events in recent memory, with fans eagerly anticipating how these matchups will unfold.
Ultimately, the committee's decisions in constructing the bracket will have lasting implications for the tournament's outcome
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/21/2026