The 2026 Big Bracket Challenge is underway with the first two rounds complete.
In the first round in the East Region, Duke held off Sienna, 71-65, while nine seed TCU knocked off eight seed Ohio State, 6664, and St John’s handled Northern Iowa, 79-53. Kansas took down CA Baptist, 68-60, while Louisville survived an upset from USF, 83-79, and Michigan State blasted North Dakota State, 92-67.
UCLA held off UCF, 7571, and UConn took down Furman, 82-71.
In the first round in the South Region, Florida took care of Praire View, 11455, while nine seed Iowa knocked off eight seed Clemson, 67-61. Vanderbilt took care of McNeese, 7868, while Nebraska handled Troy, 76-47, and 11th seeded VCU upset six seed UNC, 82-78.
Illinois blasted Penn, 10570, while 10th seeded Texas A& M upset seventh seeded Saint Mary’s, 63-50, and Houston took care of Idaho, 78-47.
In the first round in the Midwest Region, Michigan defeated Howard, 101-80, while nine seed Saint Louis upset eight seed Georgia, 102-77, and Texas Tech took down Akron, 91-71. Alabama took care of Hofstra, 90-70, while Tennessee handled Miami (OH), 78-56.
Virginia outlasted Wright St, 82-73, while Kentucky survived against Santa Clara in overtime, 89-84, and Iowa State blasted Tennessee State, 108-74.
In the first round in the West Region, Arizona took care of Long Island, 92-58, while nine seed Utah State upset eight seed Villanova, 86-76, and 12th seeded high point upset fifth seeded Wisconsin, 83-82. Arkansas took care of Hawai’i, 9778, while 11th seeded Texas knocked off sixth seeded BYU, 79-71.
Gonzaga outlasted Kennesaw State, 73-64, while Miami took care of Missouri, 80-66, and Purdue took down Queens, 104-71.
In the second round in the East Region, Duke advanced with an, 81-58, victory over TCU, while fifth seeded St John’s upset four seed Kansas, 67-65, and Michigan State took care of Louisville, 77-69. UConn knocked off UCLA, 73-57.
In the second round in the South Region, ninth seeded Iowa stunned one seed Florida, 73-72, while Nebraska survived against Vanderbilt, 74-72. Illinois took care of VCU, 76-55, while Houston took down Texas A&M, 88-57.
In the second round in the Midwest Region, Michigan took down Saint Louis, 9572, while Alabama took down Texas Tech, 90-65, and sixth seeded Tennessee upset three seed Virginia, 79- 72. Iowa State took down Kentucky, 82-63.
In the second round in the West Region, Arizona handled Utah State, 78-66, while Arkansas outlasted High Point, 94-88, and 11th seeded Texas upset three seed Gonzaga, 74- 68. Purdue took care of Miami, 79-69.
In the standings, Dwight Lewallen leads the field with 54 points, followed by Lonnie Neinast with 50 points. Derek Lopez, Tammy McDaniel, Stephanie Dabrowski and Teresa Dabrowski are tied for third with 49 points, while Ed Dabrowski and Tim Walker are tied with 48 points.
John Hernandez and Larry Ashley each have 47 points, while Johnny Rosemond and Mark Grace are tied with 46 points, and Martin Duran, Sheryl Lewallen and Steve Raney are tied with 45 points. Robert Hinojosa and Robin Neinast are tied with 44 points, while Moe Castillo and JC Orozco are tied with 42 points and Micky Orozco and Richard Orozco are tied with 41 points.
Alma Castillo and Ben Eastepp each have 40 points, while Stetson Sedberry has 38 points and Debbie Scott rounds out the field with 10 points.
The Sweet 16 will take place March 26th and 27th with the Elite 8 to follow on March 28th and 29th. The Final Four will be on April 4th and the National Championship will be on April 6th.
Thank you to our sponsors. Without them this contest would not be possible. They are Wellington State Bank, McDonald’s Valley Ag Electric, Brown Flying Service, Littlefield ISD, Rowe Abstract & Title Co. Lamb County Electric Cooperative, Inc., Pizza Hut and the Lamb County Leader-News.