Check out which Seahawks players will have a rooting interest in the 2017 NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Notre Dame running back C.J. Prosise runs towards the end zone during their spring NCAA college football game Saturday April 12, 2014, in South Bend, Ind. The Blue Gold game marks the end of spring football practice. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)
Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson (99) celebrates with teammates after recovering an Indiana fumble in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
East offensive lineman Mark Glowinski (64), of West Virginia, during the first quarter of the East-West Shrine college football game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Florida State wide receiver Rodney Smith (84) scores a touchdown on a 45-yard pass as Charleston Southern defensive back O'Brian Campbell (2) can't catch him in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
Wake Forest defensive lineman Tylor Harris (36) during warm-up prior to an NCAA college football game against Army on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in West Point, N.Y. Wake Forest won the game 17-14. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Arkansas running back Alex Collins (3) tries to elude Southern Mississippi defensive lineman Khyri Thornton during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/April L. Brown)
UCLA defensive end Cassius Marsh celebrates against New Mexico State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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)
Jacksonville State running back Troymaine Pope (24) carries the ball as North Dakota State safety Robbie Grimsley (35) tries to make the tackle during the first half of the FCS championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)
Miami wide receiver Devin Hester (4) returns a Louisiana Tech punt 51 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rick Silva)
Miami's Jimmy Graham pumps out his jersey after Miami upset Maryland, 67-62, during a first round game of the Men's Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, March 8, 2007. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Michigan defensive end Frank Clark (57) rushes the line during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Massachusetts at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
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)
Purdue's Brandon Cottom (25) rushes against Michigan State's Denicos Allen, left, and Taiwan Jones, right, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 14-0. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Notre Dame runningback Darius Walker, right, tires to break away from Purdue linebacker Cliff Avril as he runs in the third quarter of college football action in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006. Notre Dame defeated Purdue, 35-21. Walker rushed 31 times for 151 yards. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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)
Virginia's running back Perry Jones (33) is chased by Southern California's linebacker Michael Morgan (17) and safety Marshall Jones on a running play in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Southern California running back Tre Madden runs against Washington State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Wisconsin's Tanner McEvoy tries to run past South Florida's Jamie Byrd during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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)
Virginia Tech's Kam Chancellor knocks down a pass against North Carolina's Richard Quinn during the North Carolina- Virginia Tech football game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Don Petersen)
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2015, file photo, Florida running back Kelvin Taylor, left, is wrapped up by Missouri's Josh Augusta during an NCAA college football game in Columbia, Mo. Augusta stands 6-foot-4 and weighs upward of 350 pounds. His teammates nicknamed him "The Juggernaut," saying he never loses one-on-one drills in practice. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
FILE- In this Nov. 19, 2011, file photo, Florida defensive end Ronald Powell (7) hangs on to Furman wide receiver Tyler Maples (89) after he caught a pass in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla. Powell is eager to return Saturday after two reconstructive surgeries on his left knee caused him to miss all of last season. (AP Photo/ Phil Sandlin, File)
The 2017 NCAA men's basketball tournament tips off this week with a pair of "First Four" play-in games between schools competing for a spot in the March Madness field's 64-team First Round.
Spokane's Gonzaga Bulldogs are the state of Washington's lone representative this year, with head coach Mark Few's 32-win and one-loss squad claiming the West Region's No. 1 seed. Gonzaga faces off against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Thursday, March 16, while the No 3-seeded Oregon Ducks — the only other school with Pacific Northwest ties to make the tournament — readies for a contest with the Iona Gaels on Friday, March 17.
If you're looking for a team to root for and can't bring yourself to get behind Gonzaga or Oregon, browsing Seattle's roster will give you a good idea of which tournament-bound teams some of your favorite NFL players will be backing, and at this time of year, it's plenty acceptable to hop aboard a school's bandwagon.
Twenty-six names on the Seahawks' website roster — which admittedly includes a few players not under contract with free agency opening last week — have a collegiate tie to this year's big dance. It's a number that includes the tournament's "First Four" play-in games, and a list that features players like quarterback Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) and strong safety Kam Chancellor (Virginia Tech), athletes whose alma maters happen to be matching up in round one, as well as tight end Jimmy Graham (Miami, Fla.), who played college hoops for the Hurricanes and helped lead the team to the second round of the 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Below, take a look at which Seahawks players' schools are represented this year. You can check out a complete tournament bracket and view this year's schedule and broadcast information over at CBSSports.com.
EAST REGION
No. 4 Florida: LB Ronald Powell, RB Kelvin Taylor
No. 5 Virginia:C Ross Burbank
No. 8 Wisconsin:WR Tanner McEvoy, QB Russell Wilson
No. 9 Virginia Tech:SS Kam Chancellor
No. 11 USC:RB Tre Madden, LB Mike Morgan
- "First Four" play-in game
MIDWEST REGION
No. 3 Oregon:FB Will Tukuafu, TE Brandon Williams
No. 4 Purdue:DE Cliff Avril, TE Brandon Cottom
No. 5 Iowa State:DT Ahtyba Rubin
No. 7 Michigan:DE Frank Clark
No. 8 Miami, Fla.: TE Jimmy Graham, WR Devin Hester
No. 15 Jacksonville State:RB Troymaine Pope
SOUTH REGION
No. 2 Kentucky:TE Ronnie Shields
No. 3 UCLA:DE Cassius Marsh
No. 8 Arkansas:RB Alex Collins
No. 11 Kansas State:WR Tyler Lockett
- "First Four" play-in game
No. 11 Wake Forest:DE Tylor Harris
- "First Four" play-in game
WEST REGION
No. 3 Florida State:WR Rodney Smith
No. 4 West Virginia:G Mark Glowinski
No. 5 Notre Dame:RB C.J. Prosise
No. 6 Maryland:DT Quinton Jefferson
