Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is just a week away, but we’ve teams are already booking their places in March Madness.
Each of the 31 conference tournament champions earns an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament, with the other 37 spots awarded to at-large participants by the tournament’s selection committee.
For the overwhelming majority of mid- and low-major leagues, the automatic berth from winning the conference tournament is the league’s only bid.
Here’s a look at the champions of each of the 31 conference tournaments, all of which are on their way to the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness automatic bids: Who has secured 2026 NCAA tournament spots?
- America East:
- ACC: Duke
- ASUN:
- Atlantic 10: Rhode Island
- Big 12: West Virginia
- Big East:
- Big Sky:
- Big South: High Point
- Big Ten: UCLA
- Big West:
- CAA:
- Conference USA:
- Horizon League:
- Ivy League:
- MAAC:
- MAC:
- MEAC:
- Missouri Valley:
- Mountain West:
- Northeast:
- Ohio Valley: Western Illinois
- Patriot League:
- SEC: Texas
- SoCon: Samford
- Southland:
- SWAC:
- Summit League: South Dakota State
- Sun Belt:
- WAC:
- West Coast:
What day does women’s March Madness start?
The NCAA tournament First Four on the women’s side begins on Wednesday, March 18 and continues on Thursday, March 19.
The four women’s games feature the final four at-large selections to the field, as well as the four lowest-rated No. 16 seeds. The winner of each matchup advances to the first round. First-round games start March 20 and March 21.
When is Selection Sunday?
- Date: Sunday, March 15
Selection Sunday for the 2025-26 college basketball season will take place on Sunday, March 15, with both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament brackets being revealed.
