2026 March Madness Cinderella team's

Selection Sunday is in the books, and the bracket for the NCAA tournament has been released.

Mid-majors or teams in a lower tier of conference are at a disadvantage with NIL being introduced. This limited the number of Cinderella teams in every given year. That being said, here are some teams that can beat the odds.

Michael’s Picks

TROY

For a Cinderella to occur, they need an easy path and a part of their game that makes them stand out.

Troy had a very good draw against Nebraska, which has looked like a different team since February. After the Corn Huskers lost their first game against Michigan to become 15-1, Nebraska has gone 6-6 in its last twelve.

Troy is on an opposite trajectory coming into the first round hot after winning the Sun Belt Championship in a very comfortable fashion, along with being 7-3 in their last 10, including a win against Akron, another tournament team.

The Trojans' top three scorers are all forwards over 6 '7, including Thomas Dowd, who is averaging a 15-point double-double. An outlier position group is enough to make the difference when it gets late.

Teams either rely on a singular player to go off and carry the team, or depth and fundamentals to out-grit a team. Troy has the ladder, with 6 of their players averaging over 8 points a game.

With depth, good three-point shooting, and a fast-paced style, Troy can go on a run to the Sweet 16.

Santa Clara

Santa Clara is coming off a finals run in the WCC tournament, where they just came up short, losing in a close game to now three-seed Gonzaga.

Before beating Saint Mary's to reach the finals, the Broncos were on the bubble, one loss away from getting the short end of the stick and being one of the first four teams out.

Santa Clara has a backcourt of Elijah Mahi and Allen Graves, who use their athleticism to stretch the floor and create three-point opportunities, and their size, which makes them a force in the paint.

Christian Hammond is a great iso player who shoots 40% from three. He leads their front court and the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game and is capable of going off for 25 points in any given game.

As a 10 seed, the Broncos won't run into Michigan till the Elite Eight, so they are in a much better position to go on a run. If they get past an inconsistent Kentucky team, Iowa State will be their biggest test, but the Cyclones have also been inconsistent lately, going 4-4 in their last eight games.

The Broncos have a talented and very athletic roster, along with a favorable seeding and first-round match-up. Realistically, I could see them going as far as the Elite Eight, but who knows, because in March, anything can happen.

Bronwyn’s pick

Wright State

The matchup between the Wright State Raiders and the Virginia Cavaliers may look like a basic 3-seed vs. 14-seed matchup, with an easy winner in sight. However, no sports fan can forget it’s March, and this is the exact recipe in which March Madness chaos thrives.

Wright State is a Cinderella candidate that many bracket makers shouldn’t overlook.

First, momentum is on Wright State’s side. The Raiders are 23-11 overall and have won 18 of their last 22 games. Teams that peak late in the season are often the most dangerous in the NCAA Tournament, and Wright State has been just that.

The team had a Horizon League regular-season and tournament sweep, which was the first in program history. While the team may not have the strongest schedule, it shows that it is learning to win in high-pressure situations.

One example to look at was their dramatic 66-63 comeback win over Detroit Mercy, in which the team sealed their tournament bid and began to catch the slow roll of attention.

Another key factor that they have is Wright State’s ability to play in big moments. Tournament MVP TJ Burch led the way in the conference title game with 19 points as only a sophomore. While Kellen Pickett’s last-second block gave them the victory, the team has been carrying.

Offensively, the Raiders are led by Michael Cooper, who averages 13.4 points per game, followed by Burch with 12.3, and Michael Imariagbe with 11.8. This is key, as historically, very few teams with a one-person show have completed deep tournament runs on their own.

Wright State doesn’t rely on a single star. Instead, they distribute scoring responsibilities across multiple players, making them harder to defend. If Wright State can avoid turnovers, it can contain Virginia’s style and speed of play.

Another factor working in Wright State’s favor is its rotation. Their starting five, Kellen Pickett, Michael Imariagbe, Dominic Pangonis, TJ Burch and Solomon Callaghan have developed strong chemistry over their successful season. While their bench may not be as deep or star-studded as Virginia’s, players like Logan Woods and Michael Cooper have shown a handful of scoring bursts when needed. Which, in tournament play, can be the difference between moving on and going home when starters begin to find themselves in foul trouble or even with injuries.

One downside against the Raiders is their lack of tournament experience. Wright State hasn’t made a deep tournament run, and this is only its fifth NCAA appearance. Meanwhile, Virginia carries the weight of experience but also expectations as a higher seed.

Finally, there’s the factor that it is simply March Madness. Upsets happen every year. It doesn’t necessarily mean the lower-seeded team is better; it just means that, for that game, they showed up and made their shots.

In the end, Wright State is set for a classic Cinderella run this tournament. If they can dial in and keep opponents to their own tempo, the Raiders have a very real chance to shock the Cavaliers and become one of the upsets of this year’s tournament.

Michael Fechter is a first-year journalism major. To contact him, please email maf6740@psu.edu

Bronwyn Liber is a third-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email brl5354@psu.edu.