Basketball Stats Showdown 2026
The Nextech Stats Showdown competition is back for 2026! Student teams (open to 6-12th grade) will be tasked with using past tournament data (2015-2025) to create an algorithm that most accurately determines the top 10 most winningest teams in the men’s and women’s NCAA tournament brackets. The winning team per division (middle and high school) and for each of the NCAA tournaments (Men’s and Women’s) will win a traveling trophy to display in their school, a pizza party and bragging rights for the year!
The Nextech Stats Showdown competition is back for 2026! Student teams (open to 6-12th grade) will be tasked with using past tournament data (2015-2025) to create an algorithm that most accurately determines the top 10 most winningest teams in the men’s and women’s NCAA tournament brackets. The winning team per division (middle and high school) and for each of the NCAA tournaments (Men’s and Women’s) will win a traveling trophy to display in their school, a pizza party and bragging rights for the year!
Student Groups
The Data Science Bracket Competition is open to groups of 2-4 students in grades 6-12 from any school throughout Indiana. The group’s adult sponsor will be responsible for making sure the students comply with the rules and meet all the requirements and deadlines for the algorithm submission. This adult can be a teacher, parent or guardian or club advisor. A sponsor can work with multiple teams.
Assignment
Students will be asked to answer the question: “What team in each NCAA Tournament Field (men’s and women’s brackets) is going to win the most games throughout March Madness?”
Teams will be tasked with using past tournament teams’ data (2015-2025) to create an algorithm that most accurately determines the top 10 most winningest teams in each bracket. School teams will then use that algorithm and apply it to the 2026 data after Selection Sunday and submit their Top Ten list for 2026.
Competition Schedule
| February 1 (or after) | The dataset is released to sponsors who are already registered, and student groups can start creating their algorithm. If sponsors register after February 1, they will receive the data set and instructions within 2 business days. |
| Friday Prior to Selection Sunday – Friday, March 13, 2026 | Algorithms due to sponsor by end of the day. |
| Sunday, March 15, 2026 | Selection Sunday |
| No later than Monday, March 16, 2026 | Sponsors are provided the 2026 data sheet. |
| March 16-18, 2026 | Teams have 48 hours after the Selection Sunday team data is distributed to apply their algorithm to the data, select their top 10 teams and submit their selections (and algorithm used) to Nextech. |
| Throughout Tournament | Teams will be provided updates on Stats Showdown Data Science Bracket Competition results. |
| March 19-22, 2026 | Rounds 1 and 2 of the NCAA Tournament |
| March 26-29, 2026 | Rounds 3 and 4 of the NCAA Tournament (Sweet 16 & Elite 8) |
| Saturday, April 4, 2026 | The Final Four |
| Monday, April 6, 2026 | The Championship Game |
| Friday, April 10, 2026 | Winners notified on or before date; prizes distributed. |
Want to learn more? Watch this quick video with Stephanie Zircher and Jenna Garcia from the Nextech team.
