5 NCAA Tournament Sleepers That Can Make a Deep Run (2026)

Looking for NCAA Tournament sleepers in 2026? Here are five teams that could outperform their seed and make a deep March Madness run.

by Jason Lisk - Mar 15, 2026

Every year, a few teams outperform their seed and make a surprising run through the March Madness bracket.

Finding these NCAA Tournament sleepers can be a huge advantage in bracket pools. However, the key isn’t just to pick random underdogs and hope for the best. Instead, it’s about finding teams that may be stronger than their seed suggests and then assessing their path through the bracket.

For this list, we are looking at teams that will likely be seeded outside the top four seed lines, so more like your No. 5 to No. 10 seeds that could legitimately make a Sweet 16 (and beyond) push.

Find the Best NCAA Tournament Sleepers For Your Bracket

Another factor many people overlook when trying to find a sleeper is public pick rates. If everyone in your pool is picking the same “sleeper,” it doesn’t actually give you an edge.

That’s why our NCAA Bracket Pool Tool compares:

• Public pick rates

• Actual advancement odds

• Your specific pool size and scoring rules

Once you enter your pool settings, the tool highlights value picks, contrarian plays, and sleeper teams that make sense for your bracket.

Five Potential NCAA Tournament Sleepers for 2026

For more on how these teams are actually being picked in bracket pools (and their advancement odds), see our Bracket Picks Package above, where we will talk about bracket strategy and picks in more detail.

1. UCLA

Seed: No. 7 in South Region

UCLA could be one of the most dangerous underseeded teams in the tournament if its lineup is fully healthy.

The Bruins have dealt with injuries throughout the season, but when their core lineup has been on the floor together, including Donovan Dent, Skyy Clark, Trent Perry, Eric Dailey Jr., and Tyler Bilodeau, they’ve played at a level much closer to a top-tier team.

In fact, UCLA’s performance with that full lineup has been significantly stronger than its full-season numbers, with power-rating results closer to teams that belong on the No. 2 seed line.

That gap between their season numbers and their current form is exactly the kind of thing that creates NCAA Tournament sleepers.

Bottom Line: If Bilodeau is healthy when the tournament begins (they say he will play), UCLA could be much more dangerous than a typical No. 7 seed.

2. Ohio State

Seed: No. 8 in East Region

Ohio State is another team that looks better than its overall résumé.

The Buckeyes have quietly been improving late in the season, particularly on offense. Their offense has developed into a potentially elite unit, ranking among the best in the country in offensive efficiency during the stretch run.

Injuries have also masked their true quality.

Center Christoph Tilley missed a couple of games earlier in the season, and forward Brandon Noel had been out since early January before recently returning to the rotation. With Noel back and the roster closer to full strength, Ohio State adds valuable frontcourt depth.

The Buckeyes also nearly knocked off Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament, showing they can compete with elite opponents.

Bottom Line: Ohio State drew a tough bracket with TCU on deck and likely Duke looming, but the Buckeyes are peaking at the right time and have shown they can hang with the best.

3. Arkansas

Seed: No. 4 in West Region

People might not be sleeping on Arkansas after their SEC Tournament run, but they still fit the profile of a dangerous team outside the top seeds.

The Razorbacks are one of the most explosive offensive teams in the country. They play fast, shoot well, and do an excellent job protecting the ball despite their tempo.

Freshman guard Darius Acuff has emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the country down the stretch, giving Arkansas a legitimate star capable of taking over games. Malik Thomas has also stepped up as a major scoring threat.

Teams built around elite offenses and dynamic guard play often create chaos in March.

We’ve seen similar profiles make deep runs before, including teams like Miami and Alabama in recent tournaments.

Bottom Line: Arkansas carries some risk because its defense can be inconsistent, but its ability to outscore opponents makes it one of the most dangerous potential sleepers in the bracket.

4. Santa Clara

Seed: No. 10 in Midwest Region

Santa Clara may not be a household name, but the Broncos have the profile of a team capable of pulling off multiple upsets.

They finished the season 26-8 and earned their NCAA Tournament bid after a strong year in the West Coast Conference.

What’s interesting about Santa Clara is that much of their statistical profile is dragged down by a short stretch of poor performances early in December, when several of their worst games occurred in a tight cluster.

Outside of that stretch, the Broncos have played at a much higher level.

Santa Clara ranks well offensively and has the size and athleticism to compete with major conference teams. They also do an excellent job forcing turnovers and attacking the offensive glass, two traits that can help underdogs swing games in tournament settings.

Bottom Line: A double-digit seed that can create extra possessions and disrupt opponents is always worth watching. Santa Clara could be exactly that type of sleeper.

5. Clemson

Seed: No. 8 in South Region

Clemson might not look like a typical sleeper on paper, but their style of play makes it dangerous in the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers play a slow, controlled style that can frustrate opponents. They limit turnovers offensively, rebound well on defense, and focus on controlling possessions.

Teams with that profile have historically performed well in March because they can shorten games and increase pressure on higher-seeded opponents.

When games slow down, and every possession becomes important, the favorites can feel the pressure…which is exactly the kind of environment where upsets happen.

Clemson lost center Carter Welling to a torn ACL in the ACC Tournament, reducing their depth. However, the Tigers still have enough size and experience to maintain their identity.

Bottom Line: Clemson faces a coinflip-type opener against Iowa with Florida potentially looming, but they’re the kind of stylistic team that can make a tournament run.

There’s a Best Bracket for Your Pool, We Find It

Finding the right NCAA Tournament sleepers is only part of building a winning bracket.

That’s why we built our NCAA Bracket Picks tool at PoolGenius.

Using simulations, public pick data, and matchup analysis, our tool helps you:

• Identify the best picks for every round

• Find undervalued teams and sleeper picks

• Adjust your strategy based on your pool size and scoring rules

Instead of guessing, you can build a bracket based on the picks that actually give you the best chance to win your pool.