Another March Madness has passed, and with every season the fans and casual partakers alike create brackets that predict the winners of each round. These brackets are a competition between friends, family, and coworkers. The goal is to have the highest correct percentage possible, and even a perfect bracket, which has never been done before. It’s quite literally impossible, as the chance of it occurring is one in 9.2 quintillion. The closest was 49 correct consecutive picks in 2019, with a streak that lasted until the Sweet 16. Still every year brackets are made in an attempt to create a perfect one.
“I won my bracket. Michigan’s just elite, and I had the entire North part right,” Adam Linkugel (9) said.
While some participating brackets do well, March Madness always has its handful of upsets that bust brackets in the most unpredictable ways. From underdogs going on winning streaks to number 1 seeds losing early on in the tournament, brackets always go astray. The 2026 season specifically saw number 1 seed Florida lose in an upset to Iowa 73-72 in the Round of 32, causing several brackets to be destroyed early on.
“My bracket went really bad this year and I ended up in last place. When North Carolina lost to VCU that messed up my bracket and also when Kentucky lost to Iowa State that messed it up because I had them going to the final four,” Meadow Lynn (9) said.
According to an USA Today article, which ranks Florida’s loss in top five biggest upsets this year, “Before the first week of the 2026 NCAA Tournament wrapped up, one of the four No. 1 seeds had already been bounced from the field — and it just so happened to be the reigning national champions.”
Florida was also the fourth most popular selection for the national championship team in the Men’s Bracket Challenge Game according to the NCAA with 6.62% of selections.
Another bust to several brackets was No.1 seed and the most popular championship team selection, Duke, losing in the Elite Eight.
According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, 77.18% of men’s brackets had Duke advancing into the Elite Eight, and the favorite to reach the Final Four with a percentage of 61.2. For a second year in a row, Duke was the most popular national championship team in the Men’s Bracket Challenge Game, with 25.15% of brackets had Duke winning. Duke lost against the number 2 seed UConn 73 to 72 in the Elite Eight.
Besides number 1 seeds falling short, several upsets came from underdogs or overlooked teams, such as Iowa and UConn.
According to the NCAA, “No. 9 Iowa delivered another upset, knocking off No. 4 Nebraska, 77-71. Perhaps the most surprising team left in this tournament, Iowa is moving on to its first Elite Eight appearance since 1987.”
Despite Iowa ultimately losing in the Elite Eight to number three seed Illinois 71-59, they caused several upsets throughout the tournament, such as knocking number 1 seed Florida off by winning 73-72 in the Round of 32, and defeating number 4 seed Nebraska 77-71 in the Sweet Sixteen.
According to USA Today, Iowa made history: “It marked the ninth time since 1979 that a No. 9 seed defeated a No. 1 seed.”
UConn also made rare appearances on brackets.
According to the NCAA, only 13.22% of brackets had UConn advancing to the Final Four, despite them advancing all the way to the championship vs Michigan. Only 3.43%selected them as champions.
UConn lost to Michigan 69-63 in the championship. Michigan made 38% of field goal attempts, 13% of successful three pointers, 89% successful free throws, 10 turnovers, and 39 rebounds, while UConn had 31% successful field goal attempts, 27% of three pointers made, 75% free throws successful, 11 turnovers, and 46 turnovers.
