How to run your 2026 March Madness pool: Play for prizes, create your own NCAA Tournament game

March is rapidly approaching with Selection Sunday coming on March 15, so it’s already time to start thinking about how to make your 2026 NCAA Tournament picks. Last year, the NCAA Tournament bracket went relatively chalk, but we’re just a few years removed from jaw-dropping upsets, so anything can happen as the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket unfolds.

Michigan, Duke, Arizona and Iowa State are currently trending towards No. 1 overall seeds on the men’s side. Programs like UConn, Houston and Florida, however, are all lurking after recent runs deep into the NCAA brackets. March Madness pool picks aren’t complete without factoring in the women’s side, where UConn, Texas, UCLA and USC are looking strong. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2026 Men’s March Madness pools and 2026 Women’s March Madness pools. 

If you’re looking for a NCAA Tournament bracket game home, CBS Sports is the perfect place. You can play Bracket Games free on the CBS Sports App in pools with your friends and join free Men’s and Women’s Bracket Challenges to potentially win big prizes.* Get started right here.

How to create a 2026 NCAA Tournament pool with friends and family

Run your own free 2026 March Madness pool on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app and invite all of your friends, family, and co-workers to play against you during this year’s tournament. 

To start a bracket pool for Men’s March Madness, go to the Create Men’s Bracket Pool page, name your group and choose if you want a locked pool where you control the invites or an open pool that everybody can share. After that, just confirm your rules and then you can copy and share your personal pool link with friends or have CBS Sports send them emails.

For a Women’s March Madness pool, you can follow the exact same process but start at the Create Women’s Bracket Pool page in order to start your pool for the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

How to play 2026 March Madness Brackets for prizes

There are CBS Sports NCAA Bracket Challenges for the men’s and women’s tournaments and a trip to each 2027 Final Four on the line in both challenges. It’s easy to compete for those epic trips. 

For the Men’s Challenge, simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your men’s bracket after it is revealed on Sunday, March 15, and the winner of the trip to the 2027 Final Four will be chosen from among the entrants. If you’ve already created brackets in pools with friends, you can quickly enter the Challenge by importing an already-created bracket.

You can also enter the Women’s CBS Sports Bracket Challenge later that night after the Selection Show at 8 p.m. ET. Importing your brackets from your women’s pools is a convenient option for filling your Women’s Challenge brackets as well. 

The men’s bracket deadline is March 19 when first round action tips off, while the women’s bracket deadline is March 20. To be eligible, follow the steps above to join the Men’s Challenge and then join the Women’s Challenge here before each tournament begins.

2026 NCAA Tournament Men’s teams to watch

Now that you know where to play 2026 NCAA Men’s Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the Tournament approaches: 

Kansas Jayhawks: The Jayhawks might be one of the more volatile teams in the NCAA Tournament. Freshman Darryn Peterson can take over any game, but staying in those games has been a challenge as he’s dealt with a series of minor injuries and cramping issues. The Jayhawks entered the weekend having won nine of their last 10, but were stunned at home by Cincinnati, a double-digit underdog, on Saturday. That showed their downside, but recent wins against Iowa State, BYU, Arizona and Texas Tech also prove that they’ll be a dangerous team in March.

Duke Blue Devils: Jon Scheyer’s squad made the Final Four last season, but he had to replace his entire starting five after they all left for the NBA. Enter superstar freshman Cameron Boozer, who is averaging 22.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Duke is off to a 24-2 start and in the hunt for a No. 1 seed during March Madness with one of the most talented rosters in college basketball. Join the CBS Sports 2026 NCAA Men’s Bracket Game here.

2026 NCAA Tournament Women’s teams to watch

Now that you know where to play 2026 NCAA Women’s Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2026 NCAA Tournament approaches: 

UCLA Bruins: Cori Chase’s squad made the Final Four for the first time in program history last season and are cementing their status as a contender in 2026. The Bruins are off to a 26-1 start with a perfect 16-0 mark in the Big Ten and Lauren Betts continues to dominate after an All-American season in 2024-25. The center is averaging 16.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 blocks per game and leads an experienced UCLA roster whose top six scorers are all seniors.

Vanderbilt Commodores: Vanderbilt has used NIL to reshape its athletic department as has found success in football and men’s basketball. However, the women’s squad might be the university’s best shot at a national championship this season, as the Commodores are 24-3 overall and 10-3 in the SEC. Sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes is averaging 25.9 points per game this season and Vanderbilt checks in at No. 5 in the latest AP poll. Join the 2026 Women’s Bracket Game here.

How to enter 2026 NCAA Men’s & Women’s Bracket Games

Ready to set up your 2026 NCAA Tournament pools? Get started from the bracket lobby to play 2026 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Bracket Games with friends and for a chance to win trips to the 2027 Final Four.

*No purchase necessary. See rules for details.