March is just around the corner, with Selection Sunday scheduled for March 15, making it the perfect time to start preparing for your picks in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Last year, the tournament largely adhered to seeding, yet history shows that unexpected upsets can happen at any moment, so enthusiasts should remain vigilant as the 2026 bracket unfolds.
Leading the pack for potential No. 1 seeds in the men’s tournament are strong programs like Michigan, Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State, while teams like UConn, Houston, and Florida are similarly poised following impressive playoff performances in recent years. On the women’s side, UConn, Texas, UCLA, and USC also show promise for a deep tournament run. With such excitement on the horizon, now is the ideal time to set up your 2026 March Madness pools for both men’s and women’s brackets.
CBS Sports offers an excellent platform for playing NCAA Tournament bracket games. Users can access the CBS Sports App for free and join various pools with friends while participating in the Men’s and Women’s Bracket Challenges for a chance to win exciting prizes.
Creating your own 2026 March Madness pool is simple. On CBSSports.com, visit the Create Men’s Bracket Pool page to establish your men’s tournament group. You can specify whether you want a locked pool, where you control the invites, or an open pool. After confirming the rules, users can easily share their personalized pool link with friends or have CBS Sports send invitations.
The same procedure applies to the women’s tournament on the Create Women’s Bracket Pool page.
Both the men’s and women’s tournaments feature Bracket Challenges with a fantastic reward: an opportunity to win trips to the 2027 Final Four. To participate in the Men’s Challenge, simply click the provided link, select “Join Now,” and fill out your bracket after its release on Selection Sunday. Bracket creators can also expedite participation in the Challenge by importing their existing brackets from group pools.
The women’s Challenge follows a similar schedule; participants can also import brackets following that night’s Selection Show. The deadline for submitting the men’s brackets is March 19, with the first round of games kicking off shortly thereafter, while the women’s bracket deadline is March 20.
The men’s tournament boasts several teams to keep an eye on, including the Kansas Jayhawks, known for their fluctuating performances. While Kansas recently suffered a surprising defeat to Cincinnati, their previous victories against top teams such as Iowa State and Arizona illustrate their potential to be a formidable opponent in March.
The Duke Blue Devils, led by emerging star freshman Cameron Boozer, are off to a strong start this season and remain a top contender with a record of 24-2. With a talented roster and Final Four experience from last season, Duke is determined to secure a high seed in this year’s tournament.
As for the women’s tournament, teams like the UCLA Bruins and Vanderbilt Commodores are notable contenders to watch. The Bruins have enjoyed a remarkable season, remaining unbeaten in the Big Ten, while star player Lauren Betts continues to dominate on the court. Vanderbilt’s women’s team has also garnered attention with a strong overall record and impressive performances by player Mikayla Blakes, positioning them as a serious championship threat.
As anticipation builds for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, now is the time to engage with friends, family, and colleagues by setting up your bracket pools. With an opportunity to win thrilling prizes and the excitement of March Madness just around the corner, fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.