March Madness 2026: Five Double-Digit Seeds Advance in Stunning First Round
A First Round for the Ages
The 2026 NCAA Tournament wasted no time living up to its reputation as the most unpredictable event in American sports. By the time the final buzzer sounded on Sunday evening, five double-digit seeds had punched their tickets to the second round, leaving bracket pools across the country in tatters.
No. 12 seed Loyola Chicago set the tone on Thursday afternoon with a gritty 71-66 victory over No. 5 seed Michigan. The Ramblers, making their first tournament appearance since their legendary 2018 Final Four run, leaned on senior guard Marcus Townsend's 24-point performance and a suffocating defensive effort that held the Wolverines to just 38 percent shooting.
"We told our guys all week that seeds don't play the game — players do," said Loyola head coach Drew Valentine. "They believed it from the moment we stepped on the court."
The Biggest Shock
Perhaps the most jaw-dropping result came Friday evening when No. 14 seed Vermont dismantled No. 3 seed Marquette, 78-62. The Catamounts shot a blistering 53 percent from the field and connected on 11 three-pointers, turning what many expected to be a routine win for Marquette into a blowout heading the other direction.
Vermont's balanced attack featured four players scoring in double figures, led by junior forward Ethan Bouchard's 19 points and 8 rebounds. The America East champions played with a fearlessness that rattled the Golden Eagles from the opening minutes.
"We've been one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country all year," Vermont coach John Becker said. "When we're hitting like that, we can beat anybody."
Cinderella Stories Emerge
No. 11 seed VCU continued the program's proud tournament tradition with a 69-64 overtime victory over No. 6 seed Texas Tech. The Rams overcame a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation, forcing overtime on a contested three-pointer by point guard Jaylen Morris with 1.8 seconds remaining.
Meanwhile, No. 10 seed Utah State knocked off No. 7 seed Florida in a defensive slugfest, winning 54-51. The Aggies held the Gators scoreless for nearly the final four minutes, capping the win with a pair of clutch free throws from center David Okeke.
Rounding out the double-digit seed upsets was No. 13 seed Furman, who edged No. 4 seed Purdue 67-65 on a last-second layup by guard Jalen Slawson Jr. The Paladins, who shocked college basketball with a similar first-round upset in 2023, proved that their program's rise is no fluke.
Bracket Carnage
According to ESPN, only 2.3 percent of brackets submitted through their Tournament Challenge platform correctly predicted all five double-digit seed upsets. The number of perfect brackets was eliminated entirely by Friday evening, marking the earliest a perfect bracket has been busted since ESPN began tracking the statistic.
"This might be the most chaotic first round I've ever covered," said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. "The parity in college basketball right now is real. The transfer portal has leveled the playing field in ways we're only beginning to understand."
What Comes Next
The second round promises more intrigue as the surviving Cinderellas look to extend their runs. Vermont will face No. 6 seed Indiana in a Sunday afternoon matchup, while Loyola Chicago draws a tough assignment against No. 4 seed Tennessee.
VCU and Utah State will each face top-four seeds looking to reassert the bracket's order, but if the first round taught us anything, it is that form means nothing once the ball is tipped.
The tournament continues this Thursday and Friday with the Sweet 16 round, and if the opening weekend is any indication, expect the unexpected. March, as always, has its own plans.
For the millions of fans whose brackets are already busted, the consolation is simple: this is exactly why they call it Madness.
