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This year’s tournament showcases an intriguing blend of high-ranking teams making impressive strides and underdogs reaching milestones not seen in decades.
WASHINGTON — As March Madness charges into its second weekend, it has certainly delivered on all the excitement it promised!
The tournament features a captivating mix of top seeds advancing predictably alongside lower-seeded teams causing unexpected upsets, creating a thrilling narrative.
This 2026 event continues the pattern of mid-major teams struggling to advance beyond the Sweet 16. The last mid-major team to reach the championship game was San Diego State in 2023. Since 2010, only six mid-major teams have broken through to the Elite 8, with Butler achieving it in 2010 and 2011, and Gonzaga following suit in 2015 and 2017.
The Elite 8 matches are set to unfold in four cities: Washington D.C., Houston, San Jose, and Chicago.
Who advanced to this year’s Elite 8?
No.1 Duke
The Blue Devils have done it again. They advanced to their 26th Elite 8 after ending St. Johns’ reunion tour in the Sweet 16. Duke’s 26 Elite 8 appearances are the third most by any school behind Kentucky and North Carolina. Since 2018, the Blue Devils have advanced to the Elite 8 a whopping six times.
No. 2 UConn
UConn has done it again. They are Elite 8-bound after knocking off Michigan State on Friday. The win secures the Huskies 14th trip to the Elite 8. One unique stat about UConn is that the last four times they have made it this far in the tournament, they eventually won the National Championship. This most recently happened when they went back-to-back in 2023 and 2024. Â
No. 9 IowaÂ
Coming off an upset win over Nebraska in the Sweet 16, Iowa is heading to the school’s fifth-ever Elite 8 appearance. However, their last appearance was in 1987, 39 years ago. Iowa’s other trips to the Elite 8 were in 1955, 1956, 1980 and 1987. The Hawkeyes will take on No. 3 Illinois on March 28 at 6:09 ET.
No. 3 IllinoisÂ
The Illini punched their ticket to the Elite 8 after upsetting the two-seed Houston Cougars. 2026 will mark the 11th time Illinois has made it to the Elite 18. Before 2026, their most recent run to the round of eight was in 2024. The Illini will take on fellow Big-10 member, the Iowa Hawkeyes, on March 28 at 6:09 ET.
No. 1 Arizona
The Wildcats secured their berth in the Elite 8 after knocking off No. 4 seed Arkansas by 21 points. The Wildcats are making their 12th-ever appearance in the Elite 8 in 2026. The Wildcats are back in the Elite for the first time since 2015. Arizona will take on No. 2 Purdue on March 28 at 8:49 ET.
No. 2 Purdue
 The Boilermakers are in the Elite 8 after knocking off No. 11 Texas by two points in a game that was close wire-to-wire. The win secured Purdue’s seventh-ever trip to the Elite 8. Purdue has been no stranger to the Elite 8 recently; over the last seven years, they have made this round three times. Purdue will take on No. 1 seed Arizona on March 28 at 8:49 ET.
No. 1 Michigan
 The Wolverines are back in the Elite 8 after holding off Alabama in their Sweet 16 matchup. The Wolverines punched their ticket to the round of eight for the school’s 16th time. Their most recent appearances happened in 2018 and again in 2021.
No. 6 TennesseeÂ
Good ol’ Rocky Top! The Tennessee Volunteers upset Iowa State on Friday to clinch their berth in the Elite 8. This will be Tennessee’s fourth trip to the Elite 8, but it is their second consecutive year making it this far in the NCAA tournament.