The Printable Sweet 16 Bracket is a free, specialized 16-team tournament PDF designed for the second week of the NCAA Tournament. This blank bracket allows fans to “reset” after the inevitable upsets of the first two rounds, creating a clean field of the final 16 contenders. Optimized for Selection Sunday (March 15, 2026) and beyond, it features large text fields in both portrait and landscape layouts, making it the preferred choice for second-chance office pools, wall displays, and watch party games.
UPDATE (Thursday, March 26): The first night of the Sweet 16 is in the books, and half of the 2026 Elite 8 bracket is now set! Night one featured a buzzer-beating tip-in, an offensive masterclass by Arizona, and the continuation of Iowa’s improbable Cinderella run.
How to Use the Sweet 16 Second-Chance Bracket
A printable Sweet 16 bracket is the perfect way to keep the madness going after your main bracket is busted in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Follow these steps to set up your second-chance pool:
- Download the Blank PDF: Use the links below to get our clean 16-team bracket in your preferred layout (Portrait or Landscape).
- Fill in the Contenders: Once the field of 16 is set (by Sunday, March 22, 2026), fill in the team names on your blank bracket.
- Submit Your Picks: Predict the winners for the Regional Semifinals (Sweet 16), Regional Finals (Elite 8), National Semifinals (Final Four), and the National Championship.
- Score and Win: Use standard scoring (e.g., 1 point per correct Sweet 16 pick, 2 points for Elite 8, 4 points for Final Four, and 8 points for the Championship) to determine the winner.
Hosting a Sweet 16 watch party? Don’t just watch the games—play along with our Free March Madness Bingo Cards.
Sweet 16 Party Rules (Second-Chance Pool Variations)
Looking to make your Sweet 16 pool more exciting? Try these “House Rules” variations:
- The “Upset Special”: Award bonus points for picking a lower seed (e.g., a #12 seed) to win their Sweet 16 matchup.
- The “First to 10” Challenge: The first person in your pool to accumulate 10 points wins a prize (e.g., a gift card or team-themed mug).Or give them some $BRACKETS crypto 🙂
- Bracket “Re-Draft”: Instead of filling out brackets beforehand, host a mini “draft” where guests take turns selecting one of the remaining 16 teams. The person whose selected teams accumulate the most points wins.
Official 2026 Sweet 16 Matchups, Schedule, and Results
Thursday Night Sweet 16 Scores and Results
- (1) Arizona 109, (4) Arkansas 88 (West Regional)
- (2) Purdue 79, (11) Texas 77 (West Regional)
- (3) Illinois 65, (2) Houston 55 (South Regional)
- (9) Iowa 77, (4) Nebraska 71 (South Regional)
Friday, March 27 (Regional Semifinals)
| Region | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV | Location |
| East | (5) St. John’s vs. (1) Duke | 7:10 PM | CBS | Washington, D.C. |
| Midwest | (4) Alabama vs. (1) Michigan | 7:35 PM | TBS/truTV | Chicago, IL |
| East | (3) Michigan State vs. (2) UConn | 9:45 PM | CBS | Washington, D.C. |
| Midwest | (6) Tennessee vs. (2) Iowa State | 10:10 PM | TBS/truTV | Chicago, IL |
2026 Elite Eight Schedule and TV Broadcasts
Saturday, March 28 (Elite Eight)
- (3) Illinois vs. (9) Iowa, 6:09 p.m. | TBS/truTV
- (1) Arizona vs. (2) Purdue, 8:49 p.m. | TBS/truTV
Download Your Printable Sweet 16 Brackets
Click the links below to download and print our free 16-team NCAA Tournament brackets.
- Download: Printable Sweet 16 Bracket (Portrait) – FREE PDF
- Download: Printable Sweet 16 Bracket (Landscape) – FREE PDF
- Updated Printable Sweet 16 Bracket (Landscape)
