From The Sports Desk: Let the 'Madness' begin

Hello and welcome back to The Sports Desk!

Hello and welcome back to The Sports Desk! After a few weeks off, we’re resuming the newsletter full time, coming to your inbox Monday through Friday, bringing you original reporting, fresh analysis and all the latest happenings in the world of sports.

We have an exciting stretch coming up with MLB Opening Day, the NFL draft and the NBA playoffs, just to name a few. But first, March Madness! The men’s and women’s brackets were released yesterday, and we have it all covered below and at NBC News.

Duke's Cameron Boozer posts up against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2026.Jared C. Tilton / Getty ImagesMarch Madness was particularly top-heavy last year, dominated by the top seeds. Between the men’s and women’s brackets, seven of the eight No. 1 seeds made the Final Four. And the eighth team? It was a No. 2 seed.

Is this Cinderella’s year? We’ll see.

When the men’s bracket was unveiled, the four No. 1 seeds, in order, were Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida. The Blue Devils were the top seed in the tournament and somehow ended up with … the toughest path to the Final Four.