The NCAA tournament is full of the usual suspects like Michigan State and Duke, but every year there are new mascots, school colors and fight songs to learn, too.
If you are filling out a bracket and need to find inspiration in the team’s traditions or want to know who might be rooting along with you, we’ve researched each school in the tournament to give you all the information at hand, organized by region and seeds, to make it easy to pick them in Tournament Challenge, where you can create up to 25 brackets for free.
Information was scoured from public sources, and some (including student enrollment numbers) might be slightly out of date. We also apologize in advance if we left off your favorite actor/athlete/politician/relative from the list of notable alumni. It was (probably) unintentional, and there’s nothing to read into it. But we had fun with this, and we hope you do too.
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Related links: Bracket facts | Printable bracket | Women’s Tournament Challenge
ESPN’s Gabriella Madden contributed to this story.
East Region
(1) Duke Blue Devils
Durham, North Carolina
(1) Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Blue Devil | Fight song: “Fight Blue Devils”
Official color(s): Duke blue and white
Notable alumni: Adam Silver, Ken Jeong, Richard Nixon, Melinda Gates, Judy Woodruff, Jay Bilas
(2) Alabama Crimson Tide
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
(2) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Big Al | Fight song: “Yea Alabama”
Official color(s): Crimson and white
Notable alumni: Jalen Hurts, Bear Bryant, Jimmy Wales, Dabo Swinney, Harper Lee, Joe Namath
(3) Wisconsin Badgers
Madison, Wisconsin
(3) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: Bucky Badger | Fight song: “On, Wisconsin!”
Official color(s): Red and white
Notable alumni: Phil Hellmuth, Manu Raju, Andy Katz, J.J. Watt, Robert Greene
(4) Arizona Wildcats
Tucson, Arizona
(4) Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: Wilbur and Wilma | Fight song: “Fight Wildcats, Fight!”
Official color(s): UA Red and Arizona Blue
Notable alumni: Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas, Kourtney Kardashian, Nicole Richie, Kenny Lofton
(5) Oregon Ducks
Eugene, Oregon
(5) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: The Oregon Duck | Fight song: “Mighty Oregon”
Official color(s): Green and yellow
Notable alumni: Phil Knight, Kaitlin Olson, Neil Everett, Ahmad Rashad
(6) BYU Cougars
Provo, Utah
(6) Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Cosmo the Cougar | Fight song: “The Cougar Song”
Official color(s): Blue and white
Notable alumni: Andy Reid, Ken Jennings, Mark Rober, Kaskade, Danny Ainge, Mike Leach
(7) Saint Mary’s Gaels
Moraga, California
(7) Conference: West Coast | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: Gael Force One | Fight song: “On to Victory”
Official color(s): Navy, red and silver
Notable alumni: Tony Martin, Mahershala Ali, Corbin Burnes, Matthew Dellavedova
(8) Mississippi State Bulldogs
Starkville, Mississippi
(8) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Bulldogs | Fight song: “Hail State”
Official color(s): Maroon and white
Notable alumni: John Grisham, Dak Prescott, Buck Showalter, Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro
(9) Baylor Bears
Waco, Texas
(9) Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Bruiser & Marigold | Fight song: “Old Fite”
Official color(s): Green and gold
Notable alumni: Willie Nelson, Jeff Dunham, Robert Griffin III
(10) Vanderbilt Commodores
Nashville, Tennessee
(10) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Mr. Commodore | Fight song: “Dynamite”
Official color(s): Black and gold
Notable alumni: Dierks Bentley, Buster Olney, David Price, Dinah Shore, James Patterson
(11) VCU Rams
Richmond, Virginia
(11) Conference: Atlantic 10 | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Rodney the Ram | Fight song: “Ram Fight song”
Official color(s): Black and gold
Notable alumni: Patch Adams, David Baldacci, Matthew Ramsey
(12) Liberty Flames
Lynchburg, Virginia
(12) Conference: Conference USA | Enrollment: 90,000+
Mascot: Sparky the Eagle | Fight song: “Fan the Flames!”
Official color(s): Red, white and blue
Notable alumni: Seth Curry, Nick Foles, Vic Mignogna, Tiffany Espensen
(13) Akron Zips
Akron, Ohio
(13) Conference: MAC | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Zippy | Fight song: “Akron Blue & Gold”
Official color(s): Blue and gold
Notable alumni: Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Tressel, Keith Dambrot
(14) Montana Grizzlies
Missoula, Montana
(14) Conference: Big Sky | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Monte | Fight song: “Up with Montana!”
Official color(s): Maroon and silver
Notable alumni: J.K. Simmons, Carroll O’Connor, Lily Gladstone, Josh Barnett
(15) Robert Morris Colonials
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
(15) Conference: Horizon League | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Romo | Fight song: “Go Colonials”
Official color(s): Blue, red and white
Notable alumni: Wale, Kevin Colbert, Brianne McLaughlin
(16) American University Eagles
Washington, D.C.
(16) Conference: Patriot | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Clawed Z. Eagle | Fight song: AU Fight Song
Official color(s): Red, white and blue
Notable alumni: Nancy Meyers, Judge Judy Sheindlin
(16) Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers
Emmitsburg, Maryland
(16) Conference: MAAC | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: Emmit the Mountaineer | Fight song: N/A
Official color(s): Blue, white and bronze
Notable alumni: Todd Bowles, Susan O’Malley
Midwest Region
(1) Houston Cougars
Houston
(1) Conference: American | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Shasta | Fight song: “Cougar Fight song”
Official color(s): Scarlet and albino
Notable alumni: Hakeem Olajuwon, Jim Parsons, Lil Wayne, Lizzo, Fred Couples
(2) Tennessee Volunteers
Knoxville, Tennessee
(2) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Smokey | Fight song: “Down the Field”
Official color(s): Orange and white
Notable alumni: Peyton Manning, Reggie White, Candace Parker, Chris Moneymaker, Scott Kelly
(3) Kentucky Wildcats
Lexington, Kentucky
(3) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: The Wildcat | Fight song: “On, On, U of K”
Official color(s): Wildcat blue
Notable alumni: Pat Riley, Ashley Judd, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis, Story Musgrave
(4) Purdue Boilermakers
West Lafayette, Indiana
(4) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: Boilermaker Special | Fight song: “Hail Purdue!”
Official color(s): Old gold and black
Notable alumni: Neil Armstrong, Orville Redenbacher, Jim Gaffigan, John Wooden, Drew Brees
(5) Clemson Tigers
Clemson, South Carolina
(5) Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: The Tiger | Fight song: “Tiger Rag”
Official color(s): Orange and regalia
Notable alumni: Nancy O’Dell, Rob Huebel, James Michael Tyler, Lee Brice, Trevor Lawrence
(6) Illinois Fighting Illini
Champaign, Illinois
(6) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: N/A | Fight song: “Oskee-Wow-Wow”
Official color(s): Orange and blue
Notable alumni: Hugh Hefner, Jesse Jackson, Dick Butkus, Deron Williams
(7) UCLA Bruins
Los Angeles
(7) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Joe Bruin | Fight song: “Sons of Westwood and the Mighty Bruins”
Official color(s): UCLA Blue and UCLA Gold
Notable alumni: Jackie Robinson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Arthur Ashe, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Gabrielle Union
(8) Gonzaga Bulldogs
Spokane, Washington
(8) Conference: West Coast Conference | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Spike the Bulldog | Fight song: “Go Gonzaga”
Official color(s): Blue and white
Notable alumni: John Stockton, Bing Crosby, Jalen Suggs
(9) Georgia Bulldogs
Athens, Georgia
(9) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Uga and Hairy Dawg | Fight song: “Glory, Glory”
Official color(s): Red and black
Notable alumni: Michael Stipe, Deborah Roberts, Matthew Stafford, Ernie Johnson, Anthony Edwards
(10) Utah State Aggies
Logan, Utah
(10) Conference: Mountain West | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Big Blue | Fight song: “Hail the Utah Aggies”
Official color(s): Navy blue, white and pewter gray
Notable alumni: Jordan Love, Bobby Wagner, Merlin Olsen, Sawyer Hemsley
(11) Texas Longhorns
Austin, Texas
(11) Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: Bevo | Fight song: “Texas Fight”
Official color(s): Burnt orange and white
Notable alumni: Matthew McConaughey, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Kevin Durant, Janis Joplin, Walter Cronkite
(11) Xavier Musketeers
Cincinnati
(11) Conference: Big East | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: D’Artagnan and the Blue Blob | Fight song: “Xavier Fight song”
Official color(s): Navy blue and silver
Notable alumni: Jim Bunning, James Posey, Matt Stainbrook
(12) McNeese Cowboys
Lake Charles, Louisiana
(12) Conference: Southland | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Rowdy | Fight song: “Joli Blon”
Official color(s): Blue and gold
Notable alumni: R.C. Slocum, Joe Dumars, Adam Johnson
(13) High Point Panthers
High Point, North Carolina
(13) Conference: Big South | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Prowler the Panther | Fight song: “Fight Song”
Official color(s): Purple and white
Notable alumni: Austin Dillon, Donna Fargo, Gene Littles
(14) Troy Trojans
Troy, Alabama
(14) Conference: Sun Belt | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: T-Roy | Fight song: “Trojans, One and All”
Official color(s): Cardinal red, silver and black
Notable alumni: Melanie Newman, Lawrence Tynes, Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda, Osi Umenyiora
(15) Wofford Terriers
Spartanburg, South Carolina
(15) Conference: Southern Conference | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: Boss and Terri | Fight song: “Fight Song”
Official color(s): Gold and black
Notable alumni: Craig Melvin, Ellison Barber, Jerry Richardson, Chris Robinson
(16) SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Edwardsville, Illinois
(16) Conference: Ohio Valley | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Eddie the Cougar | Fight song: “The Mighty Roar”
Official color(s): Red and white
Notable alumni: Robert Seguso, Gib Singleton, Paul “Big Show” Wight, Kathleen Madigan
South Region
(1) Auburn Tigers
Auburn, Alabama
(1) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Aubie the Tiger | Fight song: “War Eagle”
Official color(s): Burnt orange and navy blue
Notable alumni: Charles Barkley, Bo Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, Lionel Richie, Octavia Spencer
(2) Michigan State Spartans
East Lansing, Michigan
(2) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: Sparty | Fight song: “Victory for MSU”
Official color(s): Green and white
Notable alumni: Magic Johnson, Le’Veon Bell, Bubba Smith, Dan Gilbert, Geoff Johns
(3) Iowa State Cyclones
Ames, Iowa
(3) Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Cy the Cardinal | Fight song: “ISU Fights”
Official color(s): Cardinal and gold
Notable alumni: Brock Purdy, Tyrese Haliburton, Fred Hoiberg, Jeff Hornacek
(4) Texas A&M Aggies
College Station, Texas
(4) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 70,000+
Mascot: Reveille | Fight song: “Aggie War Hymn”
Official color(s): Maroon and white
Notable alumni: Lyle Lovett, Rick Perry, Myles Garrett, Granger Smith
(5) Michigan Wolverines
Ann Arbor, Michigan
(5) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: N/A | Fight song: “The Victors”
Official color(s): Maize and blue
Notable alumni: Adam Schefter, Tom Brady, Madonna, Darren Criss, Rick Bayless
(6) Ole Miss Rebels
Oxford, Mississippi
(6) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Tony the Landshark | Fight song: “Forward Rebels”
Official color(s): Red and blue
Notable alumni: James Meredith, William Faulkner, Eli Manning
(7) Marquette Golden Eagles
Milwaukee
(7) Conference: Big East | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Golden Eagle | Fight song: “Ring Out Ahoya”
Official color(s): Blue and gold
Notable alumni: Rick Majerus, Chris Farley, Tom Snyder, Rachel Lindsay, Dwyane Wade
(8) Louisville Cardinals
Louisville, Kentucky
(8) Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Louie the Cardinal | Fight song: “Fight! U of L”
Official color(s): Red and black
Notable alumni: Diane Sawyer, Sue Grafton, Tom Jackson
(9) Creighton Bluejays
Omaha, Nebraska
(9) Conference: Big East | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Billy Bluejay | Fight song: “The White and the Blue”
Official color(s): White and blue
Notable alumni: Kyle Korver, Bob Gibson, Paul Silas
(10) New Mexico Lobos
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(10) Conference: Mountain West | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Lobo Louie | Fight song: “UNM Fight Song”
Official color(s): Red and silver
Notable alumni: Luc Longley, Holly Holm, Brian Urlacher, Penny Marshall
(11) San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego
(11) Conference: Mountain West | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Aztec Warrior | Fight song: “Fight song”
Official color(s): Black and scarlet
Notable alumni: Tony Gwynn, Marshall Faulk, Stephen Strasburg, Kawhi Leonard, Herm Edwards, Raquel Welch
(11) North Carolina Tar Heels
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
(11) Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Rameses | Fight song: “I’m a Tar Heel Born”
Official color(s): Carolina blue and white
Notable alumni: Michael Jordan, Stuart Scott, Andy Griffith, Chase Rice, Brooke Baldwin
(12) UC San Diego Tritons
La Jolla, California
(12) Conference: Big West | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: King Triton | Fight song: “Triton Fight Song”
Official color(s): Blue and gold
Notable alumni: Billy Beane, Mike Judge, Milana Vayntrub, James Avery
(13) Yale Bulldogs
New Haven, Connecticut
(13) Conference: Ivy League | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Handsome Dan | Fight song: “Bulldog”
Official color(s): Blue and white
Notable alumni: Ron Darling, Anderson Cooper, Kathryn Hahn, Meryl Streep
(14) Lipscomb Bisons
Nashville, Tennessee
(14) Conference: Atlantic Sun | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: LU the Bison |
Official color(s): Purple and gold
Notable alumni: Dustin Lynch, Garrison Mathews, Kelsea Ballerini, Jim Jinkins
(15) Bryant Bulldogs
Smithfield, Rhode Island
(15) Conference: America East | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: Tupper II the Bulldog | Fight song: “Bulldogs Fight”
Official color(s): Black, gold and white
Notable alumni: Nicholas Colasanto, Mikayla Nogueira, Tom Kennedy
(16) St. Francis (PA)
Loretto, Pennsylvania
(16) Conference: NEC | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: Frankie the Friar | Fight song: “Hail to the red and white”
Official color(s): Red and white
Notable alumni: London Fletcher, Norm Van Lier, Scott Layden
(16) Alabama State Hornets
Montgomery, Alabama
(16) Conference: SWAC | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Buzzy | Fight song: “Hail, Alabama!”
Official color(s): Black and gold
Notable alumni: Reggie Barlow, Lil Yachty, Tangi Miller, Tarvaris Jackson
West Region
(1) Florida Gators
Gainesville, Florida
(1) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 60,000+
Mascot: Albert and Alberta Gator | Fight song: “The Orange and Blue”
Official color(s): Orange and blue
Notable alumni: Faye Dunaway, Darrell Hammond, Stephen Root, Bob Vila
(2) St. John’s Red Storm
New York City
(2) Conference: Big East | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Red Storm Thunderbird | Fight song: “All Hail St. John’s Red Storm”
Official color(s): Red and white
Notable alumni: Mark Jackson, J. Cole, Lou Carnesecca, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Chris Mullin
(3) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Lubbock, Texas
(3) Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Raider Red | Fight song: “Fight, Raiders, Fight”
Official color(s): Red and black
Notable alumni: Michael Crabtree, Tilman Fertitta, Scott Pelley, Patrick Mahomes, Alexis Tipton
(4) Maryland Terrapins
College Park, Maryland
(4) Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Testudo | Fight song: “Fight, Fight, Fight for Maryland”
Official color(s): Red, white, black and gold
Notable alumni: Larry David, Jim Henson, Boomer Esiason, Stefon Diggs, Dianne Wiest
(5) Memphis Tigers
Memphis, Tennessee
(5) Conference: American | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: TOM | Fight song: “Go Tigers Go”
Official color(s): Blue and gray
Notable alumni: Penny Hardaway, Derrick Rose, Isaac Bruce, Antonio Gibson, DeAngelo Williams
(6) Missouri Tigers
Columbia, Missouri
(6) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Truman the Tiger | Fight song: “Every True Son and Fight”
Official color(s): MU gold and black
Notable alumni: Brad Pitt, Sheryl Crow, Max Scherzer, Carl Edwards, John Anderson, Tennessee Williams
(7) Kansas Jayhawks
Lawrence, Kansas
(7) Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Big Jay and Baby Jay | Fight song: “I’m a Jayhawk”
Official color(s): Crimson and blue
Notable alumni: Wilt Chamberlain, Dean Smith, Paul Rudd, Don Johnson, Rob Riggle, Scott Bakula, Nikki Glaser
(8) UConn Huskies
Storrs, Connecticut
(8) Conference: Big East | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Jonathan the Husky | Fight song: “UConn Husky”
Official color(s): Navy blue, gray and white
Notable alumni: Ray Allen, Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Dan Orlovsky
(9) Oklahoma Sooners
Norman, Oklahoma
(9) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Boomer and Sooner | Fight song: “Boomer Sooner”
Official color(s): Crimson and cream
Notable alumni: Olivia Munn, Ed Harris, Trae Young, Baker Mayfield
(10) Arkansas Razorbacks
Fayetteville, Arkansas
(10) Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Tusk IV | Fight song: “Arkansas Fight”
Official color(s): Cardinal and white
Notable alumni: John Daly, Jerry Jones, Pat Summerall, Joe Johnson, Darren McFadden, Tyson Gay
(11) Drake Bulldogs
Des Moines, Iowa
(11) Conference: Missouri Valley | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: Spike | Fight song: “The ‘D’ Song”
Official color(s): Drake blue, black and white
Notable alumni: Michael Emerson, Zach Johnson
(12) Colorado State Rams
Fort Collins, Colorado
(12) Conference: Mountain West | Enrollment: 33,648
Mascot: CAM the Ram | Fight song: “Fight Song”
Official color(s): Green and white
Notable alumni: Leslie Jones, Becky Hammon, Shaq Barrett
(13) Grand Canyon Lopes
Phoenix
(13) Conference: Western Athletic | Enrollment: 100,000+
Mascot: Thunder the Antelope | Fight song: “GCU Fight song”
Official color(s): Purple, black and white
Notable alumni: Henry Cejudo, Tim Salmon, Kevin Warren
(14) UNC Wilmington Seahawks
Wilmington, North Carolina
(14) Conference: Sun Belt | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Sammy C. Hawk | Fight song: “UNCW Fight Song”
Official color(s): Teal, blue and gold
Notable alumni: John Calipari, Anna Kooiman, Carl Willis
(15) Omaha Mavericks
Omaha, Nebraska
(15) Conference: NCHC | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Durango | Fight song: “UNO Fite”
Official color(s): Red and black
Notable alumni: Jake Guentzel, Peter Fonda, Karrin Allyson
(16) Norfolk State Spartans
Norfolk, Virginia
(16) Conference: MEAC | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Spiro the Spartan | Fight song: “Fight Song”
Official color(s): Green and gold
Notable alumni: Tim Reid, JB Smoove, Denise Dowse, Kyle O’Quinn
