Jay Bilas reveals picks to make Final Four in 2026 NCAA Tournament
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Jay Bilas has set out to correctly pick the Final Four again.
In an ESPN article predicting every game of the NCAA Tournament, Bilas recalls facing some criticism for going with all No. 1 seeds last year. After the Elite 8, however, it was only No. 1 seeds remaining.
“Last season, my bracket was chalky: I had all four No. 1 seeds reaching the Final Four, Houston and Florida advancing to the championship game, and the Gators cutting down the nets. The backlash was swift and unrelenting,” Bilas writes, humorously. “I was criticized for not picking an underdog to reach San Antonio. But when the dust cleared, all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four, and the Cougars and Gators battled it out for the title. You’re welcome — and I forgive you. All of you.”
For Bilas, this isn’t a year of repeats. He has Florida in his Final Four, but he’s not picking the Gators to go back-to-back and he’s not putting all 4 1-seeds as regional winners.
Bilas has Florida, the No. 1 seed out of the South, joined by No. 3 Michigan State from the East, No. 2 Iowa State from the Midwest and No. 1 Arizona from the West. In a rematch of the 2000 national championship, Bilas has MSU ending UF’s repeat bid.
“This will be a great matchup of Florida’s incredible frontcourt and a top-10 defense in Michigan State. Izzo hasn’t been to the national championship game since his squad won in 2000 — that changes this year,” Bilas writes.
He has Arizona beating Iowa State to reach the title game, and taking down Michigan State to win it all. If Arizona wins, it will be the program’s first national title since 1997.
Make your Final Four predictions at Kalshi today!
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
