MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The qualifiers for the 2026 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament were released, with five Southern States Athletic Conference teams earning bids. Dalton State, Faulkner, Life, Loyola and William Carey all earned bids. 

NAIA Release | Bracket
 
The 64 teams in the field will compete March 13-14 at 16 First and Second Round host sites around the country. Those 16 winners will advance to Kansas City for the final site March 19-24. 
 
The SSAC is tied with five other leagues for the most teams in the tournament field. 
 
Dalton State | Marion, Ind. 

• 6^th all-time appearance
• The Roadrunners are a #10 seed along with #2 Indiana Wesleyan, #7 Shawnee State and #15 St. Francies

 
Faulkner | Columbia, Mo.

• 16^th all-time appearance
• Faulkner is a #12 seed along with #4 Columbia, #5 Pikeville and #13 McPherson

 
Life | Georgetown, Ky.

• 20^th all-time appearance
• Life is a #11 seed along with #3 Georgetown, #6 Bethel (Ind.) and #14 IU Kokomo

 
Loyola | Henderson, Tenn.

• 11^th all-time appearance
• Loyola is an 8^th seed along with #1 Freed-Hardeman, #16 Governors State and #9 Bethel (Kan.)

 
William Carey | Williamsburg, Ky.

• 15^th all-time appearance
• The Crusaders are a #5 seed along with #4 Cumberlands, #12 Xavier and #13 Indiana Tech