March Madness is almost here, and a new Columbus-built app is giving fans a very different way to play along.
A free web platform called Bracket Bandit launched this week ahead of Selection Sunday for both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. The game works like a traditional bracket pool with one major twist. If your bracket is doing poorly, you may get the chance to steal someone else’s.
At the end of each round, players in the bottom 25 percent of the standings are allowed to take a bracket from another competitor. The idea is to keep people in the game longer, even if their original picks fall apart early in the tournament.
The app was created by Columbus resident John R. Blakely, who said the goal was to make bracket pools more entertaining for casual fans and serious basketball followers alike.
“Whether you know college basketball or you pick teams based on mascots, this keeps you in the game longer,” Blakely said. “If your bracket gets busted early, you can try to steal a better one.”
Bracket Bandit supports both the men’s and women’s tournaments and allows players to compete simultaneously in each. The bracket selection feature will open once the official NCAA tournament matchups are announced on Selection Sunday.
The competition is free to enter and includes more than $400 in local prizes from Columbus-area businesses.
Sponsors include The Daily Growler, UA Pizza, Back Nine Golf, and The Daily Bar.
The first-place winner will receive a prize package valued at about $250, including a $100 gift certificate to Back Nine Golf and $50 gift cards to the other participating businesses. Second and third place winners will also receive prize bundles from the sponsors.
Players can register now and choose their usernames before the tournament brackets are revealed. Once the official NCAA tournament field is announced Sunday night, participants will be able to make their picks and start planning their strategy.
To register for the Men’s Tournament, visit bracketbandit.com. To register for the Women’s Tournament, visit women2026.bracketbandit.com.
