How did Texas upset Gonzaga in March Madness 2026?

Number eleven seed Texas stunned number three seed Gonzaga seventy-four to sixty-eight on a dramatic last-second three-pointer in the second round of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament. The Longhorns overcame a halftime deficit to mount a furious comeback, capped by the buzzer-beating shot that sent the Texas bench into pandemonium. It was one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and instantly made Texas the Cinderella story of March Madness 2026.

Why is Big Ten dominating the Sweet 16?

The Big Ten conference holds approximately half of the Sweet 16 spots in the 2026 men's tournament, reflecting the conference's exceptional depth and quality this season. Michigan, along with several conference mates, advanced through dominant performances in both the first and second rounds. The Big Ten's success can be attributed to strong recruiting classes, experienced coaching staffs, and a grueling conference schedule that prepared teams well for tournament-style single elimination games.

How did Duke and Cameron Boozer perform?

Duke survived a challenging second round matchup to advance to the Sweet 16, largely thanks to the dominant performance of star freshman Cameron Boozer. Boozer, widely projected as a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft, delivered clutch baskets and controlled the paint throughout the game. His tournament performance continues to validate his status as one of college basketball's most impactful players and a potential number one overall selection in the NBA draft.

What makes the Texas upset historically significant?

Texas defeating Gonzaga as a number eleven seed over a number three seed ranks among the most memorable upsets in recent March Madness history. The last-second three-pointer that sealed the victory echoes iconic tournament moments like the 2023 Fairleigh Dickinson miracle run. For Texas, a traditional football powerhouse, the basketball program's deep tournament run brings unprecedented attention and could transform recruiting for years to come in a conference and program historically overshadowed on the hardwood.

How can Vietnamese fans watch March Madness?

Vietnamese basketball fans can follow March Madness 2026 through several channels. The tournament games are available on CBS and Turner network platforms which can be accessed via VPN services from Vietnam. The NCAA March Madness Live app provides real-time scores, highlights, and some free game streaming. Social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube offer highlights and commentary. The growing Vietnamese basketball community also follows the tournament through local sports news sites and dedicated fan groups on Facebook and Zalo.

March Madness 2026: NCAA Tournament Complete Guide

NCAA March Madness 2026

Sweet 16: Texas Stuns Gonzaga on Last-Second Three-Pointer

No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns write the Cinderella story of the tournament with a 74-68 victory over No. 3 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs, while the Big Ten dominates with half of the Sweet 16 spots.

Published: March 23, 2026

Final Score

#11 SEED

TEXAS

Longhorns

#3 SEED

GONZAGA

Bulldogs

Texas Wins — Tournament's Biggest Upset

March Madness Sweet 16 2026 — Texas vs Gonzaga

Photo: NCAA — March Madness Sweet 16 2026

The Buzzer-Beater

The Buzzer-Beater Moment

0.8 seconds remaining

19:12

Gonzaga leads 68-66 after a contested layup by their star guard.

0:15

Texas inbounds with 15 seconds. Coach Rodney Terry calls timeout to draw up the final play.

0:03

Texas guard fires from beyond the arc — NOTHING BUT NET. Texas leads 69-68.

0:00.8

Gonzaga's desperation heave falls short. Texas completes the stunning upset 74-68 (including ensuing free throws).

As a No. 11 seed, the Texas Longhorns entered their matchup against Gonzaga as heavy underdogs. But coach Rodney Terry had meticulously prepared his squad, and a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds delivered a stunning 74-68 victory.

→ Texas as #11 seed beating #3 Gonzaga is the biggest upset since 2023 Fairleigh Dickinson's run against Purdue.

Big Ten Dominates Sweet 16

Big Ten Dominance

Teams per conference in Sweet 16

Big Ten8 teams

50%

SEC3 teams

19%

Big 122 teams

ACC1 team

Others2 teams

Big Ten holds 50% of Sweet 16 spots — the largest single-conference dominance since 2019.

The Big Ten asserted its dominance by placing 8 teams in the Sweet 16, claiming exactly half of all available spots. Michigan, Purdue, and Michigan State all advanced through the rounds, proving the conference's remarkable depth this season.

→ If you picked your bracket purely by conference, betting Big Ten gave you a 50% hit rate — better than any other strategy this tournament.

Key Sweet 16 Results

#11

Texas

vs #3 Gonzaga

74-68

Duke

vs #4 TBD

Michigan

vs #7 TBD

→ Multiple upsets have busted most brackets — fewer than 3% of ESPN bracket challenge users correctly predicted all Sweet 16 results.

Duke Survives Behind Cameron Boozer

Cameron Boozer

Freshman Cameron Boozer delivered a dominant performance that carried Duke through a tough Sweet 16 challenge. His leadership and ability to carry the team have drawn serious attention from NBA scouts.

Position

Year

Freshman

NBA Draft

Projected Top 5

→ Boozer's March Madness performance could add millions to his rookie NBA contract value.

Texas: The Cinderella Story

The Texas Longhorns are writing the most memorable Cinderella story of the tournament. As a No. 11 seed, they have consecutively overcome higher-ranked opponents, and their victory over Gonzaga represents the pinnacle of this remarkable journey.

Shooting

Texas shot 48% from the field and 40% from three-point range against Gonzaga.

Team Effort

Five Texas players scored in double digits, showing balanced offensive depth.

→ If Texas keeps winning, they would be the lowest seed in the Final Four since No. 11 Loyola Chicago in 2018.