March Madness record by conference: Updated SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 win-loss totals in Sweet 16, Elite Eight

The Big Ten dominated the first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. 

What about the second weekend? The Big Ten leads all conferences with six teams in the Sweet 16, but the referendums are stronger in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. First-weekend records are remembered less than who makes the Final Four. 

Five conferences have teams in the Sweet 16. The SEC has four teams in the Sweet 16; followed by the Big 12 with three teams. The Big East has two teams; and the ACC is down to one. 

We'll track the major conferences through the first few rounds of the NCAA tournament. Which schools had the most tournament bids? Who will have the best record? Which conference will send the most schools to the Sweet 16 and Final Four? We will track that all here through the 2026 NCAA Tournament. 

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March Madness record by conference in 2026 

Here is a look at the records of each of the conferences with multiple teams left in the NCAA Tournament. Sporting News will track those records with each round:     

The Big Ten had 13 wins in the first weekend, which matched its win total from the 2025-26 NCAA Tournament. The SEC also had a strong weekend with nine wins between the First Four and first round. No. 11 Texas won three games in the first weekend of the tournament.  

The Big 12 had the best winning percentage in the tournament last season at .667. Keep that conference in mind this weekend with the Wildcats, Cougars and Cyclones all favored in their first matchup. 

Sweet 16 field by conference in 2026

Here is a look at the Sweet 16 in the 2025-26 NCAA Tournament by conference: 

The Big Ten is guaranteed one Elite Eight team because No. 4 Nebraska plays No. 9 Iowa in the Sweet 16. No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Purdue are the higher seeds in their respective Sweet 16 matchups against No. 4 Alabama and No. 11 Texas. The Wolverines and Boilermakers are two of the three heaviest betting favorites in the Sweet 16. 

No. 1 Arizona is the other. The Big 12 has three higher seeds in this round with the Wildcats and No. 2 Houston and No. 2 Iowa State. The Cougars and Texas Tech made the Elite Eight last year. 

The SEC has four teams in the Sweet 16. The conference put seven teams in the Sweet 16 last year. None of the SEC teams are favored in their matchup. Who will pull an upset? 

No. 1 Duke is the last team standing in the ACC. No. 2 UConn and No. 5 St. John's would meet in the Elite Eight if both teams can win their Sweet 16 matchup for the Big East. 

March Madness teams by conference 2026

Here is a look at the conferences with multiple bids in the 2026 NCAA Tournament: 

The SEC set a NCAA tournament with 14 selections in 20224-25. This year, the conference again has a nation-best 10 bids, and eight of those teams advanced to the second round. 

The Big Ten has five teams that are seeded No. 4 or higher. All five teams advanced to the Sweet 16. 

The Big 12 and ACC had eight tournament bids apiece, and the Big East and West Coast Conference each had three teams selected for the tournament.