MREF Bracketball 2026

Welcome to my NCAA Basketball Bracket Pool!

A brief reminder: Get your bracket(s) in before the pick deadline 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 alana@mrgivesback.org.

- Alana Gates

• Members pick all 63 games of the NCAA Tournament.
• The pick deadline is set to March 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET.
• Each participant is limited to 10 entries 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.