How many teams automatically qualify for the 2026 NCAA Men's Tournament?

Thirty-one teams automatically qualify for the 2026 NCAA Men's Tournament by winning their conference championships.

Which teams have clinched NCAA Tournament berths?

Teams like Idaho, McNeese, Gonzaga, Siena, Wright State, Hofstra, Furman, Troy, North Dakota State, Queens, High Point, Northern Iowa, Tennessee State, and Long Island University have clinched berths.

When is the 2026 NCAA Men's Tournament?

The article focuses on the final days before Selection Sunday, with championship week determining automatic bids for the 2026 NCAA Men's Tournament.

Home / Sports / Teams Clinch NCAA Tourney Berths in Championship Week

Teams Clinch NCAA Tourney Berths in Championship Week

14 Mar

Summary

31 NCAA Tournament spots are clinched by conference automatic bids.
Idaho wins first Big Sky title since 2014, making first NCAA appearance.
McNeese secures third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.

Teams Clinch NCAA Tourney Berths in Championship Week

In the final stretch before Selection Sunday, 31 automatic bids for the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament have been claimed through conference championship victories. Idaho is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the turn of the century after winning the Big Sky title, marking a significant achievement for the program.

McNeese has secured its third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth, triumphing in the Southland championship game. The team, led by Javohn Garcia, enters the tournament on a 10-game winning streak.

Gonzaga, despite a relatively under-the-radar season, clinched their 27th NCAA Tournament appearance under Mark Few. Siena returns to the tournament for the first time since 2010, achieving victory through strong defense in the MAAC championship. Wright State also punched its ticket, overcoming a deficit to win the Horizon League title.

Hofstra ends a 25-year tournament drought by winning the Colonial Athletic Association championship. Furman, a 6-seed, claimed the Southern Conference title, reminiscent of their Cinderella run in 2023. Troy secured their second straight NCAA Tournament bid, winning the Sun Belt championship.

North Dakota State set a school record for wins en route to claiming the Summit League bid. Queens, a former Division II program, made history by winning the ASUN title for their first NCAA Tournament appearance. High Point clinched back-to-back Big South tournament titles, securing their second consecutive NCAA bid.

Northern Iowa secured the Missouri Valley Conference auto-bid. Tennessee State, coached by Nolan Smith, is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 32 years. Long Island University, led by Rod Strickland, also earned an NCAA Tournament spot, marking their first appearance since 2018.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.