As the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament approaches, excitement builds during Championship Week, where teams vie for coveted automatic bids. With just a few days until Selection Sunday, 31 of the 68 tournament spots will be filled by teams winning their respective conference tournaments. Among the teams celebrating is UMBC, who returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since their historic upset of Virginia in 2018.
This year, UMBC (24-8, 14-2 America East) clinched their spot by defeating Vermont 74-59, marking a remarkable turnaround for a program that struggled last season with a 13-19 record. The Retrievers enter the tournament on a program-record 12-game winning streak, under the guidance of head coach Jim Ferry.
The following teams have also secured their places in the tournament by winning their conference tournaments:
Teams That Have Clinched Automatic Bids
- MEAC: Howard (23-10, 11-3 MEAC)
Last tournament appearance: 2024
All-time tournament record: 0-4
Details: Howard is back in the tournament for the third time in four seasons, led by MEAC Player of the Year Bryce Harris and Defensive Player of the Year Cedric Taylor III. They defeated North Carolina Central in the MEAC Championship. - Large Sky: Idaho (21-14, 9-9 Big Sky)
Last tournament appearance: 1990
All-time tournament record: 1-4
Details: Idaho won its first Big Sky title in over three decades, securing their NCAA Tournament spot with a 77-66 victory over Montana. Coach Alex Pribble has guided the team from 11 wins to a championship. - Patriot: Lehigh (18-16, 11-7 Patriot)
Last tournament appearance: 2012
All-time tournament record: 1-5
Details: Lehigh celebrated their return to March Madness after defeating Boston University 74-60. Head coach Brett Reed, who also coached during their 2012 upset of Duke, has led the team to this moment. - Southland: McNeese (28-5, 19-3 Southland)
Last tournament appearance: 2025
All-time tournament record: 1-4
Details: McNeese’s recent victory over Stephen F. Austin in the Southland Championship secures their place for a third consecutive year, powered by senior guard Javohn Garcia’s 31-point performance. - WCC: Gonzaga (30-3, 16-2 WCC)
Last tournament appearance: 2025
All-time tournament record: 47-27
Details: Gonzaga, a perennial powerhouse, qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 27th time under Mark Few, defeating Santa Clara 79-68 in the WCC Championship. - MAAC: Siena (23-11, 13-7 MAAC)
Last tournament appearance: 2010
All-time tournament record: 4-6
Details: Siena’s defense propelled them to victory over Merrimack, marking a significant return after their 2020 bid was canceled due to COVID-19. - Horizon: Wright State (23-11, 15-5 Horizon)
Last tournament appearance: 2022
All-time tournament record: 1-4
Details: Wright State defeated Detroit Mercy 66-63, overcoming a 12-point second-half deficit with key plays from Freshman of the Year Kellen Pickett. - CAA: Hofstra (24-10, 12-6 CAA)
Last tournament appearance: 2001
All-time tournament record: 0-4
Details: Hofstra ended a long NCAA Tournament drought, securing a 75-69 victory over Monmouth. - Southern: Furman (22-12, 10-8 SoCon)
Last tournament appearance: 2023
All-time tournament record: 2-8
Details: Furman returns after winning the SoCon Championship, previously noted for their upset over Virginia in 2023. - Sun Belt: Troy (22-11, 12-6 Sun Belt)
Last tournament appearance: 2025
All-time tournament record: 0-3
Details: Troy’s top-seeded team is back in the NCAA Tournament after defeating Georgia Southern. - Summit: North Dakota State (27-7, 14-2 Summit)
Last tournament appearance: 2019
All-time tournament record: 2-4
Details: NDSU clinched their tournament spot after a victory over their in-state rival. - Atlantic Sun: Queens (21-13, 13-5 ASUN)
Last tournament appearance: Never
All-time tournament record: 0-0
Details: Queens secured their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth after a thrilling overtime victory. - Big South: High Point (30-4, 15-1 Big South)
Last tournament appearance: 2025
All-time tournament record: 0-1
Details: High Point solidified their place in the tournament, continuing their strong performance from last season. - Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa (23-12, 11-9 MVC)
Last tournament appearance: 2016
All-time tournament record: 5-8
Details: UNI capitalized on Belmont’s upset to secure their own bid. - Ohio Valley: Tennessee State (23-9, 15-5 OVC)
Last tournament appearance: 1994
All-time tournament record: 0-2
Details: TSU returns to the NCAA Tournament after a lengthy absence, showcasing impressive defensive statistics. - Northeast: LIU (23-10, 15-3 NEC)
Last tournament appearance: 2018
All-time tournament record: 0-7
Details: LIU earned their place in the tournament after defeating Wagner in the NEC semifinals.
What’s Next?
With Selection Sunday approaching, fans and teams eagerly anticipate the full bracket reveal. Conference tournaments continue this weekend, with marquee matchups like Houston against Arizona and Virginia versus Duke. As teams finalize their positions, the excitement builds for potential upsets and surprise performances in the NCAA Tournament.
Be sure to follow along as the final spots are filled and prepare for what promises to be another thrilling March Madness.
What matchups are you looking forward to in the upcoming tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments!
