Danvegas Survivor Rules and Schedule - 2026

It is March . . . . and you all know what that means . . . Danvegas Survivor is back.  It's year 18 which means we are legal adults now!

Last year we had a record 133 entries!  Think we will beat that this year? Feel free to share with anyone you know who might be interested.

As always, please pay attention to both the submission and payment deadlines!  Last year was the first year I did not lose money on this endeavor - THANK YOU for paying up let's keep the streak alive and get all our entry fees and buy back payments in before the tip of the Sweet Sixteen round.  If you have not paid up by tip of the first Sweet 16 game you will not be allowed to participate next year!

The charity this year will be the Campbell Keepin Johnson Scholarship Fund.  JK. I will think of a legit 501C3 before we get going but might change it up this year. If there is an organization near and dear to your heart that you want to suggest, I'm all ears.

The Rules

The Survivor Pool is a twist on the classic NCAA bracket challenge. Pick a winner each round, win some money and help out the kiddos at the same time!

How to Play:

• Entry fee is $10 - $8 goes to the winner's pot, $2 goes to the charity pot.  Additional charitable donations are accepted. Entry fee and first day's pick must be in by NOON, March 19! Anyone who hasn't paid by tip of the Sweet Sixteen will be disqualified AND will not be allowed to play next year unless money is in BEFORE first pick is due.
• Pick one winner from each day's games for the first six days of the tournament (excluding play-in games).  If your team wins, then you rinse and repeat for the next day's games. If your team loses you are out. Those surviving until the Elite Eight will then start picking one team per ROUND. So one pick from any Elite Eight games, regardless of day. Then one Final Four team and, of course, the champion. (A full listing of picks is below.)
• Here's the kicker: You can only pick a team ONE TIME per entry! If you pick Kansas in the second round and they make it to the final game, you cannot pick them again. If you do not have a viable pick for a round, then you are out!
• Each day's picks are due by NOON! Entries may be submitted via email or text. If you have multiple entries please clearly state which team goes with which pick. (Krista1 - Kentucky; Krista 2 - Gonzaga)
• The last survivor standing takes home the winner's pot.  If there is more than one person left standing then the pot will be split evenly.
• The charity gets 20% of the pot.
• Multiple entries are allowed.  However, there is no frequent shopper discount - $10 to play. Period. 
• The "I did the dumb" reset button: If you lose in the first round (Thursday or Friday games - March 19 or 20) you may buy back in ONCE per entry for another $10, but you must pick TWO teams from the next day's games and both must win for you to advance. 

How to Enter:
Entries may be emailed or texted to Krista. Entry fees should be submitted electronically if at all possible via PayPal to my email address. I also have Zelle. I do NOT have Venmo. If your money is not in by tip of the first Sweet Sixteen game on Saturday, March 28 you will be eliminated!

2026 Submission deadlines:
First Round/Thursday pick: Noon, March 19
First Round/Friday pick: Noon, March 20
Second Round/Saturday pick: Noon, March 21
Second Round/Sunday pick: Noon, March 22
Sweet Sixteen/Thursday pick: Noon, March 26
Sweet Sixteen/Friday pick: Noon, March 27
Elite Eight pick: Noon, March 28
Final Four pick: Noon, April 4
Championship pick: Noon, April 6

If you feel like jinxing yourself, you may submit multiple days worth of picks at once but you are responsible for clearly labeling which pick goes with which day.  Pool administrator (aka Krista) is not responsible for confused submissions! Likewise, if you pick a team you've already picked and do not notice before tip of the game you are out!

Results:
Each day's picks and results will be posted here. In order to make my life easier - I will NOT be emailing a full list of picks and results.  I will do my best to upload each day's picks by 1:00 PM. However, I do have an actual job and I am a staff of one right now so this may not always happen. 

Players are responsible for checking the posts here to ensure that selections are accurately recorded before halftime of the day's first game (or roughly 90 minutes after posting). Any errors not reported (and documented) within 90 minutes of the list going live will not be changed. Periodic updates of those moving on or being eliminated will also be posted here.

Cheers and Good Luck!