The 2025 NBA Draft ended just one night ago, while the tip-off to next season is still about three months out. Still, in looking ahead to the next year in college basketball, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has released an update to Bracketology with a projected field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Lunardi shared that they’ll release an updated bracket, based on roster movement and anticipated offensive and defensive efficiency, once a month from now through October. This is the latest edition of what the Field of 68 could look like in ’26.
Coming off a record-breaking year, in berths and finishes, by the conference this postseason, the SEC is atop the list again with 14 teams in the bracket, matching last year’s new record. The Big Ten ranks second with 11. The Big 12, ACC, and Big East are next from there, with eight, six, and three in respectively from those leagues.
Here’s what Lunardi’s Field of 68 looks like with nine and a half months to go until Selection Sunday:
ESPN Bracketology: On the Bubble
Last Four Byes: Baylor, Georgia, Ole Miss, Maryland
Last Four In: Iowa, Texas A&M, Miami, SMU
First Four Out: Marquette, Indiana, Washington, Clemson
Next Four Out: Nebraska, Kansas State, Villanova, Northwestern
The bubble is full of several teams that made the field or just missed out on the tournament last year. Georgia, Ole Miss and Texas A&M are all included in the Field of 68, giving the SEC back-to-back seasons with 14 teams in the field.
New coaches bringing their new programs to the Dance is also a theme among multiple of these programs. Buzz Williams at Maryland, Jai Lucas at Miami, Ben McCollum at Iowa and Bucky McMillan at Texas A&M have their new teams just in the field in this projection, while Darian DeVries at Indiana and Kevin Willard at Villanova are on the outside looking in.
Midwest Region – Chicago
To say the Midwest Region would be a loaded region is an understatement. Heavy-hitters such as Arkansas, Houston, Michigan State, Kentucky, Louisville, Texas Tech and UConn are included in this Region. The storylines for these 16 teams are endless, including John Calipari vs. his former school Kentucky, a clash between Hall of Fame coaches John Calipari and Tom Izzo and another potential installment in the historic Kentucky vs. Louisville rivalry.
Houston is, however, tabbed as the No. 1 seed in the Region, earning what would be its fourth consecutive No. 1 seed. Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars, after falling just short of a National Championship in 2025, return starting guards Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan, along with On3’s No. 6-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025, Chris Cenac Jr.
As many as 13 of the projected 16 teams in this Region made the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
1. Houston vs. 16. Northern Colorado
8. Mississippi State vs. 9. Creighton
5. Arkansas vs. 12. Yale
4. Michigan State vs. 13. Miami (OH)
6. Texas Tech vs. 11. Texas A&M/SMU
3. Kentucky vs. 14. UNC Wilmington
7. Louisville vs. 10. Maryland
2. UConn vs. 15. Youngstown State
West Region – San Jose
Just like Houston, Duke is projected to get a second straight seeding as a No. 1 in the tournament. The Blue Devils are losing several lottery picks and some veteran guards, but still have pieces like Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Maliq Brown, and Patrick Ngongba to complement the roster. They then boast a trio of top-talented freshmen in their top three class, the two legacy recruits in Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer, plus Nikolas Khamenia, with enough to compete again next season.
If the projection goes chalk, you could possibly get a freshman superstar matchup in the Elite Eight between Duke and the Boozer twins, and Tennessee and Nate Ament, the No. 2-ranked player in On3’s Class of 2025 Rankings. Also featured in this Region is a rising Arizona and Alabama falling to a No. 5 seed.
1. Duke vs. 16. Vermont/Jackson State
8. Vanderbilt vs. 9. Baylor
5. Alabama vs. 12. Grand Canyon
4. UCLA vs. 13. UC Santa Barbara
6. Ohio State vs. 11. VCU
3. Arizona vs. 14. Troy
7. USC vs. 10. Ole Miss
2. Tennessee vs. 15. Florida Gulf Coast
East Region – Washington, D.C.
Florida was originally tabbed as a No. 3 seed in Lunardi’s initial 2026 Bracketology, but has jumped to a No. 1 seed following the confirmed return of forwards Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh and the addition of Arkansas guard Boogie Fland from the Transfer Portal. Todd Golden and the Gators are looking to become the first program to repeat since…. UConn in 2023 and 2024.
This Region also features a plethora of first-year head coaches, including Texas’ Sean Miller, Iowa’s Ben McCollum and Miami’s Jai Lucas. Michigan and a reloaded team, led by transfers Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB) and Elliott Cadeau (North Carolina), are also looking to make their first Final Four since 2018.
1. Florida vs. 16. Southeast Missouri State
8. Cincinnati vs. 9. Texas
5. North Carolina vs. 12. Illinois State
4. Illinois vs. 13. McNeese State
6. Wisconsin vs. 11. Memphis
3. Iowa State vs. 14. Furman
7. Missouri vs. 10. Iowa/Miami
2. Michigan vs. 15. Siena
South Region – Houston
Purdue rounds out the field as the final projected No. 1 seed, fueled by a returning (Naismith National Player of the Year candidate) Braden Smith and star forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. The Boilermakers also hauled in former South Dakota State star Oscar Cluff from the Transfer Portal, rounding out what should be a Big Ten championship-contending team in West Lafayette.
The South also has BYU, coming off a great season with two returning starters to pair with AJ Dybantsa, the No. 2-ranked player in On3’s Class of 2025 Rankings. The Cougars also added Rob Wright (Baylor) out of the portal.
This Region could set up a marquee Round of 32 matchup against Kansas, pitting the top two projected picks in the 2026 NBA Draft (Dybansta and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson) against each other. St. John’s and Rick Pitino are the No. 2 seed in this Region, looking to make their first Final Four appearance in the tournament since 1985.
1. Purdue vs. 16. Norfolk State/CCSU
8. Oklahoma vs. 9. NC State
5. Gonzaga vs. 12. Liberty
4. Auburn vs. 13. High Point
6. Kansas vs. 11. San Diego State
3. BYU vs. 14. South Dakota State
7. Oregon vs. 10. Georgia
2. St. John’s vs. 15. Navy
