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The full March Madness bracket may still be in place, but the odds are slim after the first round of games wrapped up Friday night.
Of the more than 36 million brackets filled in at major stadiums, only 224 entrants made it to the second round on Saturday, according to the report. NCAA website.
High Point Panthers fans watch before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on March 19, 2026. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)
There were about 14,000 brackets left after three upsets on Thursday, and despite the Cinderella news on Friday, that number was reduced to 224. That number dropped significantly Saturday afternoon after No. 1 seed Michigan punched its ticket to the Sweet 16, leaving only 207 entries.
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According to the NCAA, the biggest bracket buster of the day was 7th seed Kentucky’s thrilling overtime victory over 10th seed Santa Clara. The Broncos looked poised to upset the Wildcats, but Otega Oweh’s 3-pointer in front of his bench with just 2.4 seconds left in regulation gave Kentucky the chance to score eight straight points in overtime to advance to the second round.
About 6,000 brackets were dismantled for the final whistle. Another 3,200 were shot as Utah State pulled away from Villanova, 86-76.
Brandon Garrison (10) of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates a basket against the Santa Clara Broncos during overtime in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Louis, Missouri, March 20, 2026. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
NEARLY 36 MILLION MADNESS GUESTS WERE HIT ON THE FIRST DAY AS DISRUPTION WOULD WRECK HAVOC
Saturday could see more heartbreak for fans (or hope) with three upset winners slated to play the top seeds. No. 11 Texas will face No. 3 Gonzaga at 7:10 pm ET, No. 11 VCU will face No. 3 Illinois at 7:50 pm ET, and No. 12 High Point will fight No. 4 Arkansas at 9:45 pm ET.
The NCAA predicts the main bracket will be Michigan State vs. Louisville. If Louisville wins, only the 74th bracket will advance.
Correct brackets for all 63 games earn more than just bragging rights.
Siena Saints fans watch during the first half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 19, 2026. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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Kalshi, a leader in prediction markets – where users buy and trade stocks based on possible event outcomes – is offering $1 billion to anyone who correctly predicts all 63 tournament games, with a $1 million “consolation” prize for the highest-scoring bracket finisher.
According to its tracker, only two entries remain complete on Kalshi’s platform.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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