2026 Bracket Challenge - Elias Nickman Jr Foundation

Welcome to the:

2026 NCAA Men's Basketball - Bracket Challenge
Sponsored by: The Elias Nickman Jr Foundation

Get your bracket(s) in before the pick deadline (March 19th @ 12:00 noon) and make sure to review the pool settings. Only the main 64 teams that make up a standard bracket are included (i.e. the play-in games, or 'first four', are NOT included). Good luck to everyone.

If you have any questions, please contact me at robsleighter@sleighterdesign.com or call me at 724 322-7822.

Please return to the Elias Nickman Jr Foundation link and secure payment by one of the methods once you have completed your bracket.

Thank you so much for your support!

Robert Sleighter - Foundation Chairman
Gene Steratore - Foundation Vice-Chairman

• Members pick all 63 games of the NCAA Tournament.
• The pick deadline is set to March 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET.
• There are no restrictions on how many entries a member can have in the contest.
• Points are awarded for each correct pick.
• Points values increase as the tournament progresses, as follows:
• Play-in games are not included or scored
• First Round = 1 point
• Second Round = 2 points
• Sweet 16 = 4 points
• Regional Final (Round of 8) = 8 points
• National Semifinal (Last Four) = 16 points
• Championship = 32 points
• The contest does not use a seed point bonus. Correct picks will be awarded the points assigned for each round.
• The tie-breaker is the combined number of points scored in the Championship game. Each member must enter a tie-break value when they make their picks.
• The winner is the entry with the most points at the end of the NCAA Tournament.