By Charlie Creme Updated: 12/02/2025 at 9:00 a.m. ETThe first month of the season is complete. Just like that, the first quarter of the 2025-26 campaign is done. The ACC/SEC Challenge arrives this week, and then the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten start to dabble in conference play. Bracketology is here for all of it, with weekly updates each Tuesday. Once the calendar flips to January, we’ll update our projection twice a week (every Tuesday and Friday).
11Virginia Tech11Villanova16Long Island16Mercer16Arkansas-Pine Bluff16SE Louisiana11Virginia11South Dakota State
Bracket WatchTop Overall SeedUConnFirst Team OutKansasLast Team InVillanovaThe Players Era championship wasn’t intended to provide clarity on the pecking order of the nation’s top teams. But with Texas beating UCLA and South Carolina in Las Vegas, the Longhorns leapfrog both to claim the No. 2 overall spot behind UConn (the Gamecocks and Bruins are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively). Until one of these teams stumbles to someone outside of the group, that order will stay intact.Keep an eye on UCLA. The Bruins just concluded a busy month in which they played five Quad 1 games — something reflected in UCLA’s No. 4 spot in the first NET rankings of the season released Monday. The loss to Texas is the only blemish; wins over OU, UNC and Duke were all decisive. And they did it short-handed. Coach Cori Close is essentially using six players, as wing Timea Gardiner and post Sienna Betts remain out with injuries.Moving forward, the schedule eases a bit: USC on Jan. 3, Maryland two weeks after that and the only meeting with Michigan not until Feb. 8. The Big Ten is deep, but it isn’t the gauntlet at the top like the SEC. The Bruins are the fourth No. 1 seed for now, but a healthier, deeper UCLA could still find its way to the top overall spot for the second year in a row.
The Players Era championship wasn’t intended to provide clarity on the pecking order of the nation’s top teams. But with Texas beating UCLA and South Carolina in Las Vegas, the Longhorns leapfrog both to claim the No. 2 overall spot behind UConn (the Gamecocks and Bruins are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively). Until one of these teams stumbles to someone outside of the group, that order will stay intact.
Keep an eye on UCLA. The Bruins just concluded a busy month in which they played five Quad 1 games — something reflected in UCLA’s No. 4 spot in the first NET rankings of the season released Monday. The loss to Texas is the only blemish; wins over OU, UNC and Duke were all decisive. And they did it short-handed. Coach Cori Close is essentially using six players, as wing Timea Gardiner and post Sienna Betts remain out with injuries.
Moving forward, the schedule eases a bit: USC on Jan. 3, Maryland two weeks after that and the only meeting with Michigan not until Feb. 8. The Big Ten is deep, but it isn’t the gauntlet at the top like the SEC. The Bruins are the fourth No. 1 seed for now, but a healthier, deeper UCLA could still find its way to the top overall spot for the second year in a row.
On the BubbleLast Four Byes Minnesota Florida Georgia MiamiLast Four In Virginia South Dakota State Virginia Tech VillanovaFirst Four Out Kansas California Clemson BYUNext Four Out Seton Hall Colorado Davidson Auburn
Last Four In Virginia South Dakota State Virginia Tech Villanova
Region 1 Fort WorthStorrs1 UConn – aq16 Bryant – aq8 Richmond9 IllinoisNashville5 Michigan State12 Charleston – aq4 Vanderbilt13 UMass – aqAmes6 Louisville – aq11 Murray State – aq3 Iowa State14 Santa Clara – aqNorman7 Nebraska10 Miami2 Oklahoma15 California Baptist – aq
Region 4 SacramentoLos Angeles1 UCLA – aq16 Western Illinois – aq8 West Virginia9 Mississippi State – aqOxford5 Baylor12 Saint Joseph’s – aq4 Ole Miss13 Tulsa – aqChapel Hill6 Oklahoma State11 Virginia Tech/ Villanova3 North Carolina14 Howard – aqBaton Rouge7 Ohio State10 Georgia – aq2 LSU15 High Point – aq
Region 2 Fort WorthAustin1 Texas16aq – Long Islandaq – Mercer/8 Oregon9 StanfordLos Angeles5 Kentucky12aq – Colorado State4 USC13aq – IdahoCollege Park6 NC State11 Fairfield3aq – Maryland14aq – UTEPFort Worth7 Alabama10 Minnesota2 TCU15aq – UC Santa Barbara
The first month of the season is complete. Just like that, the first quarter of the 2025-26 campaign is done. The ACC/SEC Challenge arrives this week, and then the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten start to dabble in conference play. Bracketology is here for all of it, with weekly updates each Tuesday. Once the calendar flips to January, we’ll update our projection twice a week (every Tuesday and Friday).
Photo illo by ESPN Illustration, additional photos courtesy of Getty Images, Associated Press, Imagn, Icon Sportswire, EPA/Shutterstock
By Charlie Creme Updated: 12/02/2025 at 9:00 a.m. ETThe first month of the season is complete. Just like that, the first quarter of the 2025-26 campaign is done. The ACC/SEC Challenge arrives this week, and then the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten start to dabble in conference play. Bracketology is here for all of it, with weekly updates each Tuesday. Once the calendar flips to January, we’ll update our projection twice a week (every Tuesday and Friday).
11Virginia Tech11Villanova16Long Island16Mercer16Arkansas-Pine Bluff16SE Louisiana11Virginia11South Dakota State
11Virginia Tech11Villanova16Long Island16Mercer16Arkansas-Pine Bluff16SE Louisiana11Virginia11South Dakota State
Photo illo by ESPN Illustration, additional photos courtesy of Getty Images, Associated Press, Imagn, Icon Sportswire, EPA/Shutterstock
Photo illo by ESPN Illustration, additional photos courtesy of Getty Images, Associated Press, Imagn, Icon Sportswire, EPA/Shutterstock
Bracket WatchTop Overall SeedUConnFirst Team OutKansasLast Team InVillanovaThe Players Era championship wasn’t intended to provide clarity on the pecking order of the nation’s top teams. But with Texas beating UCLA and South Carolina in Las Vegas, the Longhorns leapfrog both to claim the No. 2 overall spot behind UConn (the Gamecocks and Bruins are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively). Until one of these teams stumbles to someone outside of the group, that order will stay intact.Keep an eye on UCLA. The Bruins just concluded a busy month in which they played five Quad 1 games — something reflected in UCLA’s No. 4 spot in the first NET rankings of the season released Monday. The loss to Texas is the only blemish; wins over OU, UNC and Duke were all decisive. And they did it short-handed. Coach Cori Close is essentially using six players, as wing Timea Gardiner and post Sienna Betts remain out with injuries.Moving forward, the schedule eases a bit: USC on Jan. 3, Maryland two weeks after that and the only meeting with Michigan not until Feb. 8. The Big Ten is deep, but it isn’t the gauntlet at the top like the SEC. The Bruins are the fourth No. 1 seed for now, but a healthier, deeper UCLA could still find its way to the top overall spot for the second year in a row.On the BubbleLast Four Byes Minnesota Florida Georgia MiamiLast Four In Virginia South Dakota State Virginia Tech VillanovaFirst Four Out Kansas California Clemson BYUNext Four Out Seton Hall Colorado Davidson Auburn
Top Overall SeedUConnFirst Team OutKansasLast Team InVillanova
Last Four Byes Minnesota Florida Georgia MiamiLast Four In Virginia South Dakota State Virginia Tech VillanovaFirst Four Out Kansas California Clemson BYUNext Four Out Seton Hall Colorado Davidson Auburn
By Charlie Creme Updated: 12/02/2025 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Region 3 SacramentoColumbia1 South Carolina16aq – Arkansas-Pine Bluffaq – SE Louisiana/8aq – Indiana9 Texas TechIowa City5 Notre Dame12aq – Troy4 Iowa13aq – Cleveland StateKnoxville6 Washington11 Virginia South Dakota State/3 Tennessee14aq – NavyAnn Arbor7aq – Princeton10 Florida2 Michigan15aq – South Dakota
68-Team Bracket11Virginia Tech11Villanova16Long Island16Mercer16Arkansas-Pine Bluff16SE Louisiana11Virginia11South Dakota StateRegion 1 Fort WorthStorrs1 UConn – aq16 Bryant – aq8 Richmond9 IllinoisNashville5 Michigan State12 Charleston – aq4 Vanderbilt13 UMass – aqAmes6 Louisville – aq11 Murray State – aq3 Iowa State14 Santa Clara – aqNorman7 Nebraska10 Miami2 Oklahoma15 California Baptist – aqRegion 4 SacramentoLos Angeles1 UCLA – aq16 Western Illinois – aq8 West Virginia9 Mississippi State – aqOxford5 Baylor12 Saint Joseph’s – aq4 Ole Miss13 Tulsa – aqChapel Hill6 Oklahoma State11 Virginia Tech/ Villanova3 North Carolina14 Howard – aqBaton Rouge7 Ohio State10 Georgia – aq2 LSU15 High Point – aqRegion 2 Fort WorthAustin1 Texas16aq – Long Islandaq – Mercer/8 Oregon9 StanfordLos Angeles5 Kentucky12aq – Colorado State4 USC13aq – IdahoCollege Park6 NC State11 Fairfield3aq – Maryland14aq – UTEPFort Worth7 Alabama10 Minnesota2 TCU15aq – UC Santa BarbaraRegion 3 SacramentoColumbia1 South Carolina16aq – Arkansas-Pine Bluffaq – SE Louisiana/8aq – Indiana9 Texas TechIowa City5 Notre Dame12aq – Troy4 Iowa13aq – Cleveland StateKnoxville6 Washington11 Virginia South Dakota State/3 Tennessee14aq – NavyAnn Arbor7aq – Princeton10 Florida2 Michigan15aq – South Dakota
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