Check out which Seahawks players have a rooting interest in this year's March Madness NCAA men's basketball tournament.
In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, Colorado senior defensive tackle Will Pericak looks on before facing UCLA in the first quarter of an NCAA football game in Boulder, Colo. Pericak faces two opponents every Saturday: the opposing quarterback and diabetes. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado's Paul Richardson, right, runs past Iowa State's Leonard Johnson, left, in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo. on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/ Matt McClain)
Connecticut wide receiver Deshon Foxx (4) during his team's 35-10 loss to BYU in an NCAA football game in East Hartford, Conn., on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)
Maryland defensive lineman A.J. Francis (96) carries a American flag during player introductions before the Military Bowl NCAA college football game against East Carolina, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, in Washington. Also seen is Maryland running back Haroon Brown (32).(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vanderbilt special teams snapper Andrew East warms up before an NCAA college football game against Kentucky at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Flavell)
Miami's Jimmy Graham dunks in overtime period past Florida State's Ryan Reid in a college basketball game on Saturday, March 8, 2008 in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)
Miami's Jimmy Graham (80) is tackled by Duke safety Matt Daniels during the quarter of an NCAA college football game in Miami, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Kent State's Trayion Durham (34) is brought down by Buffalo's Kristjan Sokoli (90) and Khalil Mack (46) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Amherst, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Oregon Will Tukuafu, right, and Blake Ferrras (90) tackle Utah's Eddie Wide (36) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday Sept. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)
Baylor wide receiver Antwan Goodley (5) scores against West Virginia cornerback Travis Bell (26), right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Rod Aydelotte)
Duke tight end Cooper Helfet (81) stumbles for extra yards against Georgia Tech defensive back Dominique Reese (26), left, and corner back Rod Sweeting (6) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Rich Addicks)
Texas safety Earl Thomas celebrates with the Golden Hat trophy at the end of their NCAA football game against Oklahoma in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 17 2009. Texas won 16-13. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
Missouri tight end Martin Rucker, center, is sandwiched between Texas A&M's Devin Gregg, left, and Michael Bennett, right, during the second quarter of a college football game Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 40-26. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Texas A&M wide receiver Jeff Fuller (8) pulls in a 42-yard touchdown pass as Army defensive back Jordan Trimble (10) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, right, congratulations offensive linesman Patrick Lewis (61) after a touchdown and extra point during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Methodist, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, in Dallas. Texas A&M won 48-3. (AP Photo/John F. Rhodes)
Texas A&M running back Christine Michael (33) breaks a tackle by Colorado cornerback Jalil Brown (23) and runs for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Kansas running back Daymond Patterson (15) and Texas A&M cornerback Steven Terrell (21) battle for the ball during the first half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, in Lawrence, Kan. The pass was ruled incomplete. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Southern California wide receiver George Farmer, right, makes a touchdown catch as California cornerback Darius White defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Southern California tight end Anthony McCoy (86) runs with the ball between Ohio State linebacker Jermale Hines (7) and defensive back Devon Torrence (10) )during their NCAA college football game Saturday Sept., 12, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas, right, runs the ball as Southern California linebacker Michael Morgan defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kentucky tight end Ronnie Shields (80), runs away from Tennessee-Martin defender Taino Fears-Perez (12) after a reception in their NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. Kentucky beat Tennessee-Martin 59-14. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly (10) passes as Notre Dame defensive lineman Kona Schwenke (96) watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Michigan defensive end Frank Clark (57) is seen before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
West Virginia's Mark Glowinski (64) during pre-game warmups prior to an NCAA college football game against Towson in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson)
Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson looks to pass against UNLV during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat UNLV 51-17. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Purdue defensive end Cliff Avril runs back an interception from Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber for a 43-yard touchdown during the first half of a football game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)
Purdue running back Brandon Cottom, left, breaks the tackle of Indiana safety Mark Murphy on his way to a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa State defender Ahtyba Rubin (71) pursues Texas runningback Jamaal Charles (25) during the second quarter of their football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Colorado State quarterback Pete Thomas (4) is chased by Utah defensive tackle Sealver Siliga (98) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart)
The 2016 NCAA men's basketball tournament tips off later this afternoon with "First Four" play-in games between schools vying to join the 60 other universities already announced as part of this year's eventual 64-team March Madness field.
As far as local ties go, Gonzaga, a No. 11 seed, was the only Washington school to make the cut. Looking around the Pacific Northwest, Pac-12 champion Oregon represents the region as one of the tournament's four No. 1 seeds, while Oregon St. enters the competition as one of the No. 7 seeds.
If you're anything like me and can't quite bring yourself to root for one of those three squads, finding yourself without a team too root for, why not align your March Madness fandom with one of your favorite Seahawks?
Twenty-eight players on Seattle's website roster, which admittedly includes a few players not currently under contract after free agency opened last week, have a collegiate tie to this year's tournament.
That list includes three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, who played four years of basketball on scholarship at the University of Miami before playing one year of football for the Hurricanes, and ultimately, entering the NFL. Graham helped lead Miami to the second round of the 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament and to the NIT in 2009. This year, Graham's alma mater owns a No. 3 seed and will do battle with No. 14-seeded Buffalo, where Seahawks offensive lineman Kristjan Sokoli played football.
Below, take a look at which Seahawks players' schools are represented in this year's tournament, and check out 2016's complete tournament bracket right here. The first round gets underway on Thursday, March 17.Â
SOUTH DIVISION
No. 3 Miami (Fla.): TE Jimmy Graham
No. 5 Maryland: DT A.J. Francis
No. 8 Colorado: C Will Pericak, WR Paul Richardson
No. 9 UCONN: WR Deshon Foxx
No. 11 Vanderbilt: LS Andrew East
No. 14 Buffalo: C/G Kristjan Sokoli
WEST DIVISION
No. 1 Oregon: FB Will Tukuafu
No. 3 Texas A&M: DE Michael Bennett, WR Jeff Fuller, C Patrick Lewis, RB Christine Michael, FS Steven Terrell
No. 4 Duke: TE Cooper Helfet
No. 5 Baylor: WR Antwan Goodley
No. 6 Texas: FS Earl Thomas
EAST DIVISION
No. 3 West Virginia: G Mark Glowinski
No. 4 Kentucky: TE Ronnie Shields
No. 6 Notre Dame: T Kona Schwenke
No. 7 Wisconsin: QB Russell Wilson
No. 8 USC: CB George Farmer, TE Anthony McCoy, LB Mike Morgan
No. 11 Michigan: DE Frank Clark
MIDWEST DIVISION
No. 3 Utah: DT Sealver Siliga
No. 4 Iowa St.: DT Ahtyba Rubin
No. 5 Purdue: DE Cliff Avril, TE Brandon Cottom
