Favorites dominate NCAA Tournament Day 2: Explaining how day without point-spread upset fits into history

Favorites dominate NCAA Tournament Day 2: Explaining how day without point-spread upset fits into history originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . It was a Friday of favorites on Day 2 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

In 15 games on Friday, the team that was favored came out victorious, bringing a rare sense of chalk to a bracket that had been set on fire in years past. After a chaotic Thursday defined by High Point’s historic upset and multiple double-digit seeds advancing, the heavyweights reasserted their dominance to ensure the weekend wouldn't be entirely devoid of blue bloods. Top seeds Arizona, Florida, Purdue, and Iowa State all handled their business with relative ease, avoiding the nightmare 16-over-1 scenarios that have haunted favorites in recent years.

Arizona, in particular, looked the part of a national title contender, dismantling LIU behind a balanced attack that saw five players reach double figures. Even in the few games that flirted with drama, the higher-seeded teams found ways to survive and advance, preserving their place in the Round of 32. The lack of upsets on Friday was a welcome sight for bracket purists and those chasing the "perfect bracket" dream, though the number of unblemished entries still plummeted below 1,500 by late evening.

While the magic of March was largely absent from the scoreboard today, the stage is now set for a heavyweight-heavy second round. Here's more on the favorites' dominant day. SN's MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable PDF Favorites record on Day 2 of NCAA Tournament The second day of the 2026 NCAA Tournament was a stark departure from the relative madness of Thursday, as higher-seeded teams collectively slammed the door on any potential Cinderella stories.