The Florida fight song still reverberates through central Texas, but the best March Madness betting sites have already released 2026 college basketball national championship odds.

Can the Gators repeat their title after scoring a big comeback victory over Houston on Monday night? They’re among the contenders in a wide-open race to cut down the nets at the end of the NCAA Tournament.

Will the SEC have another historic season in 2025-26? The early releases from oddsmakers suggest Auburn and Alabama will also be in the hunt for the national title. Here’s a closer look at the 2026 college basketball national championship odds.

2026 college basketball national championship odds

*as of 4/8

It should surprise nobody to see Duke at the top of the odds boards listed by the top online sportsbooks. The Blue Devils were one of the best teams this season and had a 14-point lead over Houston in the second half of the Final Four before faltering down the stretch.

Duke will lose a handful of key players, including Wooden Award winner Cooper Flagg, but should replenish its talent with the nation’s best recruiting class, including the twin sons of former Blue Devil Carlos Boozer.

Speaking of highly-rated recruiting classes, Houston is listed ahead of Duke in the odds at BetMGM Sportsbook because of its expected landing of three top-20 prospects. There’s a chance point guard Milos Uzan returns, too. If that happens, don’t be surprised if the Cougars are the No. 1 team in preseason rankings.

UConn will always be respected in national championship odds as long as coach Dan Hurley patrols the sidelines. The Huskies won the 2023 and 2024 titles and took Florida to the wire in a second-round game this season.

UConn added arguably the biggest impact transfer to date in Silas Demary Jr., a point guard in the mold of past UConn lead guards who averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season for Georgia. UConn is also waiting to hear if forward Alex Karaban will return for his senior season.

While Demary Jr. was one of the early dominoes to fall (UConn won out over St. John’s, Kentucky and BYU), other moves are sure to come. The transfer portal has turned college basketball into a year-round recruiting cycle, and there’s always something expected around the corner.

The period for high school players to sign National Letters of Intent begins on April 16, meaning next season’s rosters will form soon.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Best odds: +2500 at DraftKings Sportsbook

By now, coach Nate Oats gets the benefit of the doubt. Oats has guided the Crimson Tide to four Sweet 16 appearances in five seasons, plus one Final Four and this season’s Elite Eight appearance. It’s fair to expect Oats to build another championship contender in 2025-26.

All-American Mark Sears will be gone, but plenty of talent returns especially if Labaron Philon chooses to stay in college. Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. will comprise a strong guard tandem, and Derrion Reid will likely grow big-time.

Oats has already recruited three strong players in the transfer portal, and more are likely on their way.

Auburn Tigers

Best odds: +2500 at DraftKings Sportsbook

Coach Bruce Pearl reached his second Final Four this season with Auburn, and there’s no reason to think the Tigers will fall far from that peak next season. Wooden Award finalist Johni Broome will be in the NBA, so Auburn must find another go-to player next season.

Could that be Tahaad Pettiford? The freshman was great this season, but he’s likely to test the NBA Draft waters. If he returns to college — something that could become more common in the future with potential NIL earnings — it would instantly boost the Tigers’ national championship odds.

Florida Gators

Best odds: +2500 at FanDuel Sportsbook

Florida may want to enjoy its time on the mountaintop because its best perimeter players — Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin — won’t be on the team. It will be ultra-tough for coach Todd Golden to rebuild that group and have the Gators in position to win a national title again in 2026.

Denzel Aberdeen, Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu are solid players and will prevent the Gators from falling too far down the SEC standings. Florida appears to have a pair of good incoming freshmen, but they would have to significantly outplay their prospect ratings for the Gators to get back to the Final Four.