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March Madness Cinderella story is alive and well

The term “Cinderella” in college basketball March Madness circles generally refers to a mid-major team that comes out of nowhere to make a surprising run in the NCAA Tournament. Just three years ago, in 2023, we had two midmajor teams…

By Yahoo Sports

• March 23, 2026 at 2:30 PM

March Madness Cinderella story is alive and well Photo: Yahoo Sports

The term “Cinderella” in college basketball March Madness circles generally refers to a mid-major team that comes out of nowhere to make a surprising run in the NCAA Tournament.

Just three years ago, in 2023, we had two midmajor teams make the Final Four, the first since Loyola Chicago in 2018 (and no, Gonzaga is not a midmajor).

Both Florida Atlantic and San Diego State in 2023 could be described as “cinderellas,” and they gave us an all-time classic Final Four matchup before the Aztecs got pummeled by UConn in the National Championship game.

In the three years that have followed, we have not had a single mid-major team reach the Sweet 16.

However, we have had three double-digit seeds reach the Sweet 16, and they may just be the new definition of cinderella – the modern cinderella.

MORE: Predicting the winner of March Madness 2026

NIL and the Transfer Portal Changed Everything

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers guard Rob Martin (3) knocks the ball away from Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd (2) during the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center.

Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
In the era of NIL and the transfer portal, it is increasingly hard to compete at a national level as a mid-major.

The second you have a good season, and people start noticing your players, programs with more prestige and deeper pockets will come after them.

Just look at that 2023 FAU team’s starting 5 — Johnell Davis ended his career at Arkansas, Alijah Martin did so at Florida, Nick Boyd is at Wisconsin right now, and Vlad Goldin followed his coach, Dusty May, to Michigan.

The last true Cinderella got completely gutted in less than two years’ time.

NIL and the transfer portal have no doubt made the glass slipper harder to fit for traditional cinderellas, which is why I’m hypothesizing that there’s a new kind of cinderella — a modern cinderella.

The Emergence of the Modern Cinderella

The last three double-digit seeds to reach the Sweet 16 are 2024 NC State, 2025 Arkansas, and the 2026 Texas Longhorns.

Notice a trend there?

These are all high-major programs, coached by well-known head coaches, that had talented rosters built mostly through the transfer portal.

NC State’s two best players through their run, DJ Burns and DJ Horne, were both transfers.

Johnell Davis transferred from FAU to Arkansas.

Texas, meanwhile, acquired its entire starting 5 from the transfer portal — Jordan Pope (Oregon State), Tramon Mark (Arkansas), Dailyn Swain (Xavier), Camden Heide (Purdue), and Matas Vokietaitis (FAU).

Why is it significant that all 3 of the modern cinderellas were built through the portal?

Why Portal-Built Teams Peak at the Right Time

Feb 25, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Dailyn Swain (3) rebounds during the second half against the Florida Gators at Moody Center.

Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
Because all of these rosters had legitimate talent (including at least one NBA-level player), and peaked at the right time.

When you build through the transfer portal, it takes time to build chemistry among the players and for the coaches to determine the best lineups to roll out and sets to call.

This year’s Texas team had lost 5 of their last 6 games before this year’s NCAA Tournament.

They clearly figured something out in the losses, because they’ve won three straight — and here’s the kicker — and they’ve looked like the more competent basketball team every step of the way.

If you didn’t know that Texas was an 11-seed, you would assume they were a 3 or a 4.

This team is big, physical, and has multiple guards who can create and score in 1on1 matchups.

They have a potential lottery pick in Dailyn Swain, and Matas Vokietaitis is one of the top-10 traditional big men in college basketball.

Get Used to the New Cinderella

I say all of this to say — get used to seeing the modern cinderella.

The talented Power-5 team with a known head coach who underachieves through most of the season but then figures everything out at the right time.

The last 3 seasons have given us one team that fits this literal definition exactly.

And 3 makes a trend.

So, if a team acquires a lot this offseason and struggles out of the gates to start next season, don’t panic, because they just could turn out to be a modern Cinderella.