The first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament might not have delivered the chaos some fans crave, but it certainly set the stage for potential drama in the Round of 32. For the first time since 1992, all the favorites went 16-0 on Friday, and a record-breaking 14 teams secured victories by 20 points or more. This is the most in the history of the Round of 64, according to CBS Sports.
Florida, a No. 1 seed, was in a league of its own, setting multiple single-game NCAA Tournament records in a commanding 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M. The Gators shattered records for total points, field goals made (45), field goal percentage (64.3), assists (29), and margin of victory (59). They were among six teams to score over 100 points, marking a new high for any round in tournament history.
Among the surprises, High Point (12), VCU (11), Texas (11), and Texas A&M (10) were the only double-digit seeds to advance. High Point celebrated its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory by toppling fifth-seeded Wisconsin, while VCU pulled off an incredible comeback against sixth-seeded North Carolina, erasing a 19-point deficit-the largest ever in a first-round game and the sixth-largest in tournament history.
Top-seed Duke had a scare of its own, needing a spirited second-half comeback to avoid an upset against No. 16 Siena.
The Blue Devils overcame an 11-point halftime deficit, the largest ever by a No. 1 seed against a No. 16.
"It's not always smooth sailing," Duke coach Jon Scheyer remarked, acknowledging the pressure and mistakes early on. Duke will face ninth-seeded TCU next.
As we head into Saturday, only eight perfect brackets remain in CBS Sports Bracket Games, underscoring the unpredictability of March Madness.
In terms of standout performances, Kentucky's overtime win over Santa Clara was a highlight, featuring Otega Oweh's buzzer-beating 50-footer to force overtime. Oweh's 35-point performance was pivotal for the Wildcats as they prepare to meet second-seeded Iowa State.
BYU's AJ Dybantsa, despite a loss to Texas, made history with his 35-point game, the second-most by a freshman in tournament history. Dybantsa, averaging 25.5 points per game this season, is a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft.
UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. delivered a historic 31-point, 27-rebound game, reminiscent of Elvin Hayes' legendary performance in 1968, leading the Huskies to victory over Furman.
Nebraska also celebrated a milestone, securing its first NCAA Tournament win in school history with a 29-point triumph. The Huskers, under coach Fred Hoiberg, have turned the corner after three losing seasons and will face No. 5 Vanderbilt next.
"It's almost like a storybook ending," Nebraska senior Sam Hoiberg reflected, capturing the emotional significance of the win for a program that has endured its share of struggles.