How to run your 2026 March Madness pool: Play for prizes and create your own NCAA Tournament game
CBS Sports
by
Ryan Wooden
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 NCAA March Madness season is approaching quickly, with Selection Sunday set for March 15 and the tournament beginning on March 19 for men's games and March 20 for women's games. For sports enthusiasts looking to get into the action, setting up a March Madness pool with friends or family has never been easier. CBS Sports offers free tools to create both men's and women's NCAA Tournament pools, allowing participants to join or invite others to play in a fun and competitive environment. Whether you prefer a locked pool where you control who joins or an open pool that anyone can participate in, the platform makes it simple to set up your own bracket challenge.
The article highlights key teams to watch as the tournament approaches, including the Arizona Wildcats, who are aiming for a No. 1 seed but have not reached the Final Four in 25 years. On the women's side, the UConn Huskies remain undefeated and are likely to secure the top seed in their bracket. Other notable teams include UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and Vanderbilt. For men's basketball, the Kansas Jayhawks and Duke Blue Devils are also strong contenders, with standout players like Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Ama Nsekhou of Duke expected to make significant impacts.
CBS Sports' Bracket Games allow participants to play for prizes, including trips to future Final Fours, by joining their Men's or Women's NCAA Tournament Challenges. The men's bracket deadline is March 19, while the women's deadline is March 20. Players can create new brackets or import existing ones from their pools to enter these challenges. With just weeks until the tournament starts, now is the perfect time to gather your group, set up your pool, and start strategizing for the ultimate March Madness experience.
For those looking to add excitement to this year's March Madness, CBS Sports provides a user-friendly platform to create and manage pools, making it easy to engage with friends and family while competing for prizes. Whether you're a casual fan or a die-hard sports enthusiast, participating in a March Madness pool offers a fun way to预测 the outcomes of games and test your knowledge of college basketball. With the 2026 NCAA Tournament just around the corner, don't miss out on the chance to make this year's bracket challenge one to remember.
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/20/2026