At long last, we have a bracket!
All across America, diehard hoop-heads, casual viewers, and those of us who are only 70% sure March Madness is even about basketball are coming together.
In a beautiful display of chaos and hope, we all pursue the impossible: a perfect bracket.
Before we tip off, we should get to know the Texas teams taking the floor in the 2026 Big Dance.
This year, seven Texas teams made the cut, up from only five in 2025.
We have the Houston Cougars continuing their dynastic March run as a No. 2 seed, a couple of mid-ranking contenders in Texas Tech and TCU, and three double-digit seeds looking to shock the world in Texas A&M, Texas, SMU, and Prairie View A&M.
Houston Cougars
Seed / Region: No. 2 — South Region
First-Round Matchup: Idaho (15): Thursday, 9:10 p.m. – truTV
Record (Overall / Conference): 28–6 overall, 14–4 Big 12 (second place)
Finish in Conference Tournament: Lost Big 12 Tournament Final to Arizona, 79–74
Best Win This Season: at BYU (77–66)
Worst Loss This Season: Three-game losing streak in mid-February (at Iowa State, vs. Arizona, at Kansas)
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Seed / Region: No. 5 — Midwest Region
First-Round Matchup: Akron (12): Friday, 11:40 a.m. – truTV
Record (Overall / Conference): 22–10 overall, 12–6 Big 12 (tied for third place)
Finish in Conference Tournament: Lost Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinal to Iowa State, 75–53
Best Win This Season: at Arizona (78–75 OT)
Worst Loss This Season: at Arizona State (72–67)
TCU Horned Frogs
Seed / Region: No. 9 — East Region
First-Round Matchup: Ohio State (8) – Thursday, 11:15 a.m. – CBS
Record (Overall / Conference): 22–11 overall, 11–7 Big 12 (sixth place)
Finish in Conference Tournament: Lost Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinal to Kansas, 78–73
Best Win This Season: at Texas Tech (73–65)
Worst Loss This Season: at Colorado (87–61)
Texas A&M Aggies
Seed / Region: No. 10 — South Region
First-Round Matchup: Saint Mary’s (7) – Thursday, 6:35 p.m. – truTV
Record (Overall / Conference): 21–11 overall, 11–7 SEC (tied for fourth place)
Finish in Conference Tournament: Lost in SEC Tournament Second Round to Oklahoma, 83–63
Best Win This Season: at Georgia (92–77)
Worst Loss This Season: at Oklahoma State (87–63)
Texas Longhorns
Seed / Region: No. 11 — West Region (First Four)
First-Round Matchup: NC State (11): Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. – truTV
Record (Overall / Conference): 18–14 overall, 9–9 SEC (10th place)
Finish in Conference Tournament: Lost in SEC Tournament First Round to Ole Miss, 76–66
Best Win This Season: at Alabama (92–88)
Worst Loss This Season: vs. Oklahoma (88–85 OT)
SMU Mustangs
Seed / Region: No. 11 —Midwest Region (First Four)
First-Round Matchup: Miami-OH (11): Wednesday, 8:15 p.m. – truTV
Record (Overall / Conference): 20–13 overall, 8–10 ACC (tied for 11th place)
Finish in Conference Tournament: Lost in ACC Tournament Second Round to Louisville, 62–58
Best Win This Season: vs. Louisville (95–85)
Worst Loss This Season: at Syracuse (79–78)
Prairie View A&M Panthers
Seed / Region: No. 16 —South Region (First Four)
First-Round Matchup: Lehigh (16): Wednesday, 5:40 p.m. – truTV
Record (Overall / Conference): 18–17 overall, 9–9 SWAC (8th place)
Finish in Conference Tournament: Won SWAC Tournament Final vs. Southern, 72-66
Best Win This Season: vs. Southern (72-66)
Worst Loss This Season: at Wichita State (105-62)
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