First off – thank you everyone for voting. It makes me so happy to do these every year and see so much action from y’all. In the past, we have typically had some nail biters in the first round, but it was not so this year. It seemed to be the year of the runaway victory. With a few hours left in voting on the Round of 64, we were looking at only needing Mrs. Clumsy Optimist to cast her tie-breaking vote on possibly one of our 32 matchups. In the end, that matchup ended up being our only one vote victory, while we ended the first round with two 100-0 wins and three other matches that ended with the losing side getting only one vote. Quite possibly the best seeding I have ever done in the first round.

To that effect, our first round saw two regions go completely scratch with the 1-8 seeds winning and a 3rd region go scratch with the exception of a 10 seed beating a 7 seed. To that end, after 32 matches we only lost one 5 seed and two 7 seeds. Every other higher seed took a victory. Again, great seeding by whoever put this bracket together! And we officially have one Cinderella story ready to jump into action! Although I would not be totally surprised to see our Sweet 16 not have a double digit seed for the first time in years. But I’m not counting any (Camilla the) Chickens before they hatch. Y’all have chosen some matches in a way I could never have seen coming before.

The second round begins now and voting will end Wednesday, March 25 at 5pm Central. There are already a few damn near impossible choices to be made and matchups for the ages. There is one matchup in particular that I cannot wait to see what y’all do with. Good luck!

But first — Let’s get on to the results! Remember all “scores” are percentages from voting.

Round of 68

Gary and Mary Region

(1) Kermit the Frog vs (16) Uncle Traveling Matt

We got our 2026 tournament started off with a bang as 16 seed Uncle Travelling Matt could only muster one vote and falls to the Gary & Mary Region 1 seed Kermit by a final of 97-3.

(2) Animal vs (15) Mahna Mahna

My personal favorite Animal drew a tough opening round opponent in 15 seed Mahna Mahna but eventually pulled away late and cruised to an easy 83-17 victory.

(3) The Swedish Chef vs (14) Zoot

The high seed victory train kept rolling as The Swedish Chef put a 79-21 beatdown on Zoot.

(4) Beaker vs (13) Dr. Bunson Honeydew

I made a couple of these matchups between two pairs that are always together and the assistant here takes out the good doctor as Beaker moves on to the Round of 32 by a final of 70-30.

(5) Scooter vs (12) Gobo Fraggle

This is a matchup I did not see coming as the 5 seed Scooter was given everything the 12 seed Gobo Fraggle had and in the end, we get our first true upset as Gobo moves on by a final of 52-48 – that’s a victory that came down to 1 vote! Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your vote doesn’t matter. (Full disclosure: If you go look at the previous post you will see this matchup noted as a 50-50 tie. I meant to click on the results tab about 2 minutes before closing to check the score and accidentally voted for Scooter moving this into a tie. Sorry Scooter fans).

(6) Rowlf vs (11) Walter

The big dog at the piano had an easy go of this matchup against the muppet from the 2011 movie this region is named after as Rowlf moves on by a final of 89-11.

(7) Janice vs (10) Dr. Teeth

This is the one match that would probably go back and re-seed if I could. The band leader should have truly been the higher seed, but I love Janice so I do what I want. Y’all made a fool of me though as Dr. Teeth moves on, winning 61-39.

(8) Sam the Eagle vs (9) Robin

Our final Gary & Mary game saw crowd favorite Sam the Eagle beat out the littlest muppet frog Robin by a final of 74-26.

Scrooge Region

(1) Miss Piggy vs (16) Sprocket

In a bit more of a tough match than I believed it would be, 1 seed Miss Piggy took a beating but ultimately hi-yah’d Sprocket out of the bracket by a final of 76-24.

(2) The Great Gonzo vs (15) Camilla the Chicken

Another first round matchup of true loves that Mrs. Clumsy Optimist told me I was “very rude” for making go against each other. In the end, The Great Gonzo moves on 90-10.

(3) Fozzie Bear vs (14) The Newsman

I know people love The Newsman but he ran into a buzzsaw 3 seed in the Round of 64 as Fozzie Bear moves on 90-10.

(4) Statler & Waldorf vs (13) Sweetums

I didn’t split these two because frankly I don’t know where they seed separately. Also, I freakin love Sweetums. In the end Statler & Waldorf heckle the 13 seed out of the tournament by a final of 76-24.

(5) Rizzo vs (12) Sgt. Floyd Pepper

I was a little surprised early on as Sgt. Floyd Pepper got out to a quick lead but Rizzo the Rat pushed late to a 62-38 victory.

(6) Boober Fraggle vs (11) Lips

I thought this could possibly be an upset. I was wrong. The 6 seed Boober moves on easily 79-21.

(7) Pepe the King Prawn vs (10) Mokey Fraggle

I don’t know who I would move down, but Pepe the King Prawn is underseeded. I love him so much. Mokey Fraggle tried but Pepe gets the easy win 81-19.

(8) Red Fraggle vs (9) Marjory the Trash Heap

I didn’t know what to do with this one. I went back and forth 50 times before settling on Marjory the Trash Heap. Y’all struggled just as much but the 8 seed Red Fraggle moves on 64-36. Justice for the trash heap!

Mr Hooper Region

(1) Elmo vs (16) Rocco

I was also told this matchup was “super rude” and that I was “stretching the definition of a muppet” and that “Rocco’s not a muppet. It’s just a rock!“. At the end of voting, Elmo took out his rage on the rock a finished with a final of 82-18.

(2) Grover vs (15) Tango

In another rout, our 2 seed Grover sailed to an easy win over Elmo’s dog Tango 81-19.

(3) Abby Cadabby vs (14) Betty Lou

I was wondering how this one would turn out and it was tight all the way through and we continue the scratch seeding as Abby Cadabby moves on to the round of 32, knocking out Betty Lou 60-40.

(4) Ernie vs (13) Two-Headed Monster

Two-Headed Monster was an intriguing 13 seed that I thought could take out our first 4 seed but Ernie put up a fight and held on in the end, moving on 60-40.

(5) Bert vs (12) Prairie Dawn

I believed Prairie Dawn was going to be a tougher out than Betty Lou was but I was mistaken as 5 seed Bert easily moves on to the second round 82-18.

(6) Gonger vs (11) Tamir

Let me tell you something here and now. Gonger is my favorite new-ish Sesame Street character. It’s not real close. I wanted to rank him higher but couldn’t justify moving anyone else down. 11 seed Tamir gave the Monster Foodie a run for his money, but Gonger gets the win 68-32. “It’s ready!!!”

(7) Zoe vs (10) Baby Bear

Oh, sweet Baby Bear. The little guy put up a fight, but the 7 seed Zoe gets the victory 69-31.

(8) Julia vs (9) Smartie

Another matchup where I was told I was stretching the definition of a muppet. “That’s not a muppet. That’s a cell phone!” Y’all agreed and 8 seed Julia cruises into the Round of 32 on the back of a 85-15 victory.

Mr Noodle Region

(1) Big Bird vs (16) Gladys The Cow

Our final region was the region of blowouts. We got started off with our first 100-0 victory as 1 seed Big Bird destroyed Gladys the Cow. Sorry Glady.

(2) Cookie Monster vs (15) Mr. Johnson

The second matchup was almost the same result but the ever hilarious Mr. Johnson eked out one vote to hold off being shut out but the final here is 96-4. COOKIE!!!

(3) Oscar the Grouch vs (14) Hoots the Owl

Oscar the Grouch knocked out a similar game as 14 seed Hoots the Owl got one vote and Oscar moves on 96-4.

(4) Count von Count vs (13) Martians (Yip-yips)

The 13 seed Martians were a tough low seed. I had a feeling they could put up a fight but ran into too much power from Count von Count who moves on 71-29.

(5) Mr. Snuffleupagus vs (12) Louie (Elmo’s dad)

Our last blowout saw the ever popular (and real!) Snuffleupagus fully dominated Elmo’s dad as Louie goes down by the full 100-0 score.

(6) Rosita vs (11) Ji-Young

In a match of semi-new Ji-Young (2021) and a character that has been around much longer than I thought in Rosita (1991), the 6 seed Rosita moves on to the second round by a final of 88-12.

(7) Rudy vs (10) Guy Smiley

I was curious about this one. Guy Smiley is an all-timer and people have complicated enjoy/hate feelings about Rudy. The haters came out on this one and the 10 seed Guy Smiley moves on by a final of 73-27.

(8) Telly Monster vs (9) Gabrielle

Telly Monster is a fan favorite. So it was not too much of a surprise to see 9 seed Gabrielle try mightily but ultimately fall to the worry monster 85-15.

Whew. That was a lot. Y’all really put the work in! Anyhoo…..

That leaves us with our bracket looking like this (Click to expand. It gets a little crowded):

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Round of 32

Gary and Mary Region

(1) Kermit the Frog vs (8) Sam the Eagle

(2) Animal vs (10) Dr. Teeth

(3) The Swedish Chef vs (6) Rowlf

(4) Beaker vs (12) Gobo Fraggle

Scrooge Region

(1) Miss Piggy vs (8) Red Fraggle

(2) The Great Gonzo vs (7) Pepe the King Prawn

(3) Fozzie Bear vs (6) Boober Fraggle

(4) Statler & Waldorf vs (5) Rizzo

Mr Hooper Region

(1) Elmo vs (8) Julia

(2) Grover vs (7) Zoe

(3) Abby Cadabby vs (6) Gonger

(4) Ernie vs (5) Bert

Mr Noodle Region

(1) Big Bird vs (8) Telly Monster

(2) Cookie Monster vs (10) Guy Smiley

(3) Oscar the Grouch vs (6) Rosita

(4) Count von Count vs (5) Mr. Snuffleupagus

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Polls are now live and will stay open until 5pm Central time on Wednesday the 25th. We’ve had a few less upsets than most years so far but there are a ton of these high seeds that are facing some massive challenges in the second round. There’s also a couple of match-ups that the seeding committee (me) was very much wanting to see happen and I’m glad y’all made my (I mean the committee’s) dreams come true! Good luck figuring out how you’re going to vote on this round. I have absolutely no idea what to do on literally at least half of these already! It will be fun to see how this all shakes out!

Alright everybody, let’s get to voting! See you guys on Thursday with our Sweet 16!