South Carolina and USC sure look impressive, don't they? But every year there are new teams to watch, and with that comes 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Information was scoured from public sources, and some (including student enrollment numbers) might be slightly out of date.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: Guide to every team | How to play | Printable bracket
ESPN's Gabriella Madden contributed to this story.
Spokane 1 region
(1) UCLA Bruins
Los Angeles
Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Joe Bruin | Fight song: "Mighty Bruins"
Official color(s): Joe and Josie Bruin
Notable alumni: Jackie Robinson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Arthur Ashe, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Gabrielle Union
(2) NC State Wolfpack
Raleigh, North Carolina
Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Mr. and Mrs. Wuf | Fight song: "Fight song" and "Red and white song"
Official color(s): Wolfpack red, white, and black
Notable alumni: Zach Galifianakis, Trea Turner, Philip Rivers, Debbie Antonelli, John Tesh
(3) LSU Tigers
Baton Rouge
Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Mike the Tiger | Fight song: "Fight for LSU"
Official color(s): Purple and gold
Notable alumni: Joe Burrow, Lauren Daigle, Sylvia Fowles
(4) Baylor Bears
Waco, Texas
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
(5) Ole Miss Rebels
Oxford, Mississippi
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
(6) Florida State Seminoles
Tallahassee, Florida
Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Osceola and Renegade | Fight song: "Fight song"
Official color(s): Garnet and gold
Notable alumni: Lee Corso, Marc Tremonti, Burt Reynolds, Ron Simmons
(7) Michigan State Spartans
East Lansing, Michigan
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
(8) Richmond Spiders
Richmond, Virginia
Conference: Atlantic 10 | Enrollment: Under 5,000
Mascot: WebstUR | Fight song: "Spider Born"
Official color(s): Blue and red
Notable alumni: Bruce Hornsby, Kenny Atkinson, Sean Casey
(9) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Atlanta, Georgia
Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Buzz | Fight song: "Ramblin Wreck"
Official color(s): White and tech gold
Notable alumni: Jimmy Carter, Chris Bosh, Jan Davis
(10) Harvard Crimson
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Conference: Ivy League | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: John Harvard | Fight song: "Harvardiana"
Official color(s): Harvard crimson and black
Notable alumni: Matt Damon, Gabrielle Thomas, John F. Kennedy, Bill Gates
(11) George Mason Patriots
Fairfax, Virginia
Conference: Atlantic 10 | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: The Patriot | Fight song: "Onward to Victory"
Official color(s): Green and gold
Notable alumni: Rhea Seehorn, Dayton Moore, Archie Kao, Ricky Wilson
(12) Ball State Cardinals
Muncie, Indiana
Conference: MAC | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Charlie Cardinal | Fight song: "Fight, Team, Fight"
Official color(s): Cardinal and white
Notable alumni: David Letterman, Joyce DeWitt
(13) Grand Canyon Lopes
Phoenix
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) San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego
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
(15) Vermont Catamounts
Burlington, Vermont
Conference: America East | Enrollment:
Mascot: Rally | Fight song: "Vermont Victory"
Official color(s): Green and gold
Notable alumni: Ben Affleck, John Dewey, Martin St. Louis
(16) UC San Diego Tritons
La Jolla, California
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
(16) Southern Jaguars
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Conference: Southwestern | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: LaCumba the Jaguar | Fight song: "Southern Fight Song"
Official color(s): Columbia blue and gold
Notable alumni: Randy Jackson, Bob Love
Birmingham 2 region
(1) South Carolina Gamecocks
Columbia, South Carolina
Conference: SEC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Sir Big Spur | Fight song: "The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way"
Official color(s): Garnet and black
Notable alumni: Sterling Sharpe, Mike Colter, Darius Rucker, A'ja Wilson, Whit Merrifield
(2) Duke Blue Devils
Durham, North Carolina
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
(3) North Carolina Tar Heels
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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
(4) Maryland Terrapins
College Park, Maryland
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) Alabama Crimson Tide
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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
(6) West Virginia Mountaineers
Morgantown, West Virginia
Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: The Mountaineer | Fight song: "Hail, West Virginia"
Official color(s): Old gold and blue
Notable alumni: Jerry West, Billy Mays, Bob Huggins, Pat McAfee, Marc Bulger
(7) Vanderbilt Commodores
Nashville, Tennessee
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
(8) Utah Utes
Salt Lake City, Utah
Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Swoop | Fight song: "Utah Man"
Official color(s): Red and white
Notable alumni: Kaskade, Holly Rowe, Alex Smith
(9) Indiana Hoosiers
Bloomington, Indiana
Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: N/A | Fight song: "Indiana, Our Indiana"
Official color(s): Cream and crimson
Notable alumni: Mark Cuban, Isiah Thomas, Dick Enberg, Joe Buck, Jamie Moyer, Suzanne Collins
(10) Oregon Ducks
Eugene, Oregon
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 Olsen, Neil Everett, Ahmad Rashad
(11) Columbia Lions
New York City
Conference: Ivy League | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Roar-ee the Lion | Fight song: "Roar, Lion, Roar"
Official color(s): Blue and white
Notable alumni: Kathryn Bigelow, David Stern, Kate McKinnon
(11) Washington Huskies
Seattle, Washington
Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: Harry the Husky and Dubs | Fight song: "Bow down to Washington"
Official color(s): Purple and gold
Notable alumni: Anna Faris, Tim Lincecum, Kelsey Plum, Joel McHale, Fung Brothers
(12) Green Bay Phoenix
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Conference: Horizon League | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Phlash the Phoenix | Fight song: "Phoenix Fight Song"
Official color(s): Green and white
Notable alumni: Tony Shalhoub, Virginia Men's coach Tony Bennett, Mike Grell
(13) Norfolk State Spartans
Norfolk, Virginia
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
(14) Oregon State Beavers
Corvallis, Oregon
Conference: WCC | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Benny Beaver | Fight song: "Hail to Old OSU"
Official color(s): Orange and black
Notable alumni: Adley Rutschman, Chad Ochocinco Johnson, Sara Jean Underwood, Jensen Huang
(15) Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Conference: Patriot | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Clutch the Mountain Hawk | Fight song: "Lehigh Will Shine"
Official color(s): White and brown
Notable alumni: CJ McCollum, Cathy Engelbert
(16) Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Cookeville, Tennessee
Conference: Ohio Valley | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Awesome Eagle | Fight song: "Tech Fight Song"
Official color(s): Purple and gold
Notable alumni: Dottie West
Birmingham 3 region
(1) Texas Longhorns
Austin, Texas
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
(2) TCU Horned Frogs
Fort Worth, Texas
Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Superfrog | Fight song: "TCU Fight song"
Official color(s): Horned Frog Purple and White
Notable alumni: LaDainian Tomlinson, Andy Dalton, Scott Brooks
(3) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
South Bend, Indiana
Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Notre Dame Leprechaun | Fight song: "Victory March"
Official color(s): Blue and gold
Notable alumni: Hannah Storm, Joe Montana, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Regis Philbin
(4) Ohio State Buckeyes
Columbus, Ohio
Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 60,000+
Mascot: Brutus Buckeye | Fight song: "Buckeye Battle Cry"
Official color(s): Scarlet, gray and white
Notable alumni: Roy Lichtenstein, Patricia Heaton, Richard Lewis, Bobby Knight
(5) Tennessee Lady Volunteers
Knoxville, Tennessee
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
(6) Michigan Wolverines
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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 Chriss, Rick Bayless
(7) Louisville Cardinals
Louisville, Kentucky
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
(8) Illinois Fighting Illini
Champaign, Illinois
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
(9) Creighton Bluejays
Omaha, Nebraska
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) Nebraska Cornhuskers
Lincoln, Nebraska
Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Herbie Husker | Fight song: "Hail Varsity"
Official color(s): Scarlet and cream
Notable alumni: Johnny Carson, Willa Cather, Warren Buffett, Shelley Smith
(11) Princeton Tigers
Princeton, New Jersey
Conference: Ivy League | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: The Tiger | Fight song: "Princeton Cannon Song"
Official color(s): Black and orange
Notable alumni: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Michelle Obama, Richard Feynman, Bill Bradley, Eric Schmidt, James Madison, Aaron Burr
(11) Iowa State Cyclones
Ames, Iowa
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
(12) South Florida Bulls
Tampa, Florida
Conference: American | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Rocky D. Bull | Fight song: "USF Fight Song"
Official color(s): Green and gold
Notable alumni: Tony LaRussa, Jason Pierre-Paul, Tamsen Fadal, Aasif Mandvi
(13) Montana State Bobcats
Bozeman, Montana
Conference: Big Sky | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Champ | Fight song: "Stand Up and Cheer"
Official color(s): Blue and gold
Notable alumni: Craig Kilborn, Sam McCullum, Jan Stenerud
(14) Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks
Nacogdoches, Texas
Conference: Southland | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Lumberjack | Fight song: "Fight Song"
Official color(s): Purple and white
Notable alumni: Don Henley, Larry Centers, Will Jennings, Kelly Krauskopf
(15) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
Hackensack, New Jersey
Conference: NEC | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Knightro the Knight | Fight song: "Fairleigh Dickinson Fight song"
Official color(s): Burgundy and blue
Notable alumni: John Legere, Seth Greenberg, Zygi Wilf
(16) High Point Panthers
High Point, North Carolina
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
(16) William & Mary Tribe
Williamsburg, Virginia
Conference: CAA | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Reveley | Fight song: "Tribe Fight Song"
Official color(s): Green and gold
Notable alumni: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, Jill Ellis
Spokane 4 region
(1) USC Trojans
Los Angeles
Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 50,000+
Mascot: Traveler | Fight song: "Tribute to Troy"
Official color(s): Gold and cardinal
Notable alumni: George Lucas, Dexter Holland, Neil Armstrong, Reggie Bush, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke
(2) UConn Huskies
Storrs, Connecticut
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
(3) Oklahoma Sooners
Norman, Oklahoma
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
(4) Kentucky Wildcats
Lexington, Kentucky
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
(5) Kansas State Wildcats
Manhattan, Kansas
Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Willie the Wildcat | Fight song: "Wildcat Victory"
Official color(s): Royal purple
Notable alumni: Kirstie Alley, Erin Brockovich, Eric Stonestreet
(6) Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa City, Iowa
Conference: Big Ten | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Herky the Hawk | Fight song: "Iowa Fight song"
Official color(s): Black and gold
Notable alumni: Tennessee Williams, John Irving, Jane Smiley, Gene Wilder, Tom Brokaw, Matt Bowen
(7) Oklahoma State Cowgirls
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Conference: Big 12 | Enrollment: 20,000+
Mascot: Pistol Pete | Fight song: "Ride 'em Cowboys"
Official color(s): Orange and black
Notable alumni: Garth Brooks, Emily Wickersham, Dez Bryant
(8) California Golden Bears
Berkeley, California
Conference: ACC | Enrollment: 40,000+
Mascot: Oski | Fight song: "Fight for California"
Official color(s): Berkeley blue and California gold
Notable alumni: Alex Morgan, Chris Pine, Jaylen Brown, Joan Didion, Aaron Rogers
(9) Mississippi State Bulldogs
Starkville, Mississippi
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
(10) South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Brookings, South Dakota
Conference: Summit League | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Jack the Jackrabbit | Fight song: "Ring the Bell"
Official color(s): Blue and yellow
Notable alumni: Harvey Dunn, Dallas Goedert, Adam Vinatieri
(11) Murray State Racers
Murray, Kentucky
Conference: MVC | Enrollment 10,000+
Mascot: Racer One and Dunker | Fight song: "Fight song"
Official color(s): Navy blue and gold
Notable alumni: Heather Samuel, Ja Morant, Jeff Easley
(12) Fairfield Stags
Fairfield, Connecticut
Conference: MAAC | Enrollment: Under 10,000
Mascot: Lucas the Stag | Fight song: "Fight song"
Official color(s): Red and white
Notable alumni: Matt Turner, Kevin Nealon, January LaVoy
(13) Liberty Flames
Lynchburg, Virginia
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
(14) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Fort Myers, Florida
Conference: Atlantic Sun | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Azul the Eagle | Fight song: "Follow the Eagle"
Official color(s): Green and blue
Notable alumni: Kierstan Bell, Ross Chastain, Chris Sale
(15) Arkansas State Red Wolves
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Conference: Sunbelt | Enrollment: 30,000+
Mascot: Howl and Scarlet | Fight song: ASU Loyalty Song
Official color(s): Scarlet and black
Notable alumni: Rodger Bumpass, Demario Davis, Debbye Turner
(16) UNC Greensboro Spartans
Greensboro, North Carolina
Conference: Southern | Enrollment: 10,000+
Mascot: Spiro | Fight song: "Fight song"
Official color(s): Gold and navy blue
Notable alumni: DaBaby, Kay Yow, Emmylou Harris