By Charlie Creme Updated: 12/30/2025 at 8 a.m. ETThe break in the game schedule is over and conference play is here. The jog to March now turns into a full sprint. Bracketology picks up the pace, too, with updated projections coming twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) beginning next week.
Bracket WatchTop Overall SeedUConnFirst Team OutUtahLast Team InIndianaThere was plenty of shake-up over the first two months of the season. Teams like Texas Tech and Alabama have been much better than anticipated and remain unbeaten. Duke and Tennessee haven’t played to expectations. But the top five teams in Bracketology have stayed the same since the preseason — and it doesn’t look like that’s changing soon. No. 1 overall seed UConn and No. 2 Texas don’t look vulnerable. The Huskies are a heavy favorite to go undefeated in the regular season and only No. 3 overall South Carolina has pushed the Longhorns. Losses to either South Carolina or LSU in mid-January won’t be enough to knock Texas off the top line. The Gamecocks and Tigers also have firm grasps on their current positions. And with six Quad 1 wins, UCLA has built up a cushion and can afford a loss or maybe two in the Big Ten and still remain, at worst, the top No. 2 seed in the bracket.
On the BubbleLast Four Byes Washington Mississippi State Villanova Virginia Last Four In South Dakota St BYU Kansas IndianaFirst Four Out Utah Syracuse Miami DukeNext Four Out Clemson Columbia Rhode Island Virginia Tech
Last Four Byes Washington Mississippi State Villanova Virginia
Next Four Out Clemson Columbia Rhode Island Virginia Tech
11Kansas11Indiana16Southern16Northwestern State16Southern Utah16Mercer11South Dakota State11BYU
Region 1 Fort WorthStorrs1 UConn – aq16 FDU – aq8 Georgia9 IllinoisSouth Bend5 Ole Miss12 Santa Clara – aq4 Notre Dame13 Army – aqCollege Park6 Alabama11 Kansas/ Indiana3 Maryland14 Howard – aqNorman7 NC State10 Richmond – aq2 Oklahoma15 Western Illinois – aq
Region 4 SacramentoLos Angeles1 UCLA – aq16 Northern Iowa – aq8 Stanford9 OregonChapel Hill5 Michigan State12 Ball State – aq4 North Carolina13 High Point – aqLexington6 Ohio State11 Fairfield – aq3 Kentucky14 Albany – aqBaton Rouge7 Baylor10 Virginia2 LSU15 Austin Peay – aq
Region 2 Fort WorthAustin1aq – Texas16aq – Southernaq – Northwestern State/8 Minnesota9 Arizona StateLouisville5 USC12aq – Rice4aq – Louisville13aq – MarshallAmes6 Tennessee11aq – North Dakota State3 Iowa State14aq – Green BayAnn Arbor7 Oklahoma State10 Villanova2 Michigan15aq – Idaho
Region 3 SacramentoColumbia1 South Carolina16aq – Southern Utahaq – Mercer/8 West Virginia9 WashingtonIowa City5 Texas Tech12aq – Colorado State4 Iowa13aq – UC IrvineNashville6 Nebraska11 South Dakota State BYU/3 Vanderbilt14aq – CharlestonFort Worth7aq – Princeton10 Mississippi State2aq – TCU15aq – UTEP
The break in the game schedule is over and conference play is here. The jog to March now turns into a full sprint. Bracketology picks up the pace, too, with updated projections coming twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) beginning next week.
68-Team Bracket11Kansas11Indiana16Southern16Northwestern State16Southern Utah16Mercer11South Dakota State11BYURegion 1 Fort WorthStorrs1 UConn – aq16 FDU – aq8 Georgia9 IllinoisSouth Bend5 Ole Miss12 Santa Clara – aq4 Notre Dame13 Army – aqCollege Park6 Alabama11 Kansas/ Indiana3 Maryland14 Howard – aqNorman7 NC State10 Richmond – aq2 Oklahoma15 Western Illinois – aqRegion 4 SacramentoLos Angeles1 UCLA – aq16 Northern Iowa – aq8 Stanford9 OregonChapel Hill5 Michigan State12 Ball State – aq4 North Carolina13 High Point – aqLexington6 Ohio State11 Fairfield – aq3 Kentucky14 Albany – aqBaton Rouge7 Baylor10 Virginia2 LSU15 Austin Peay – aqRegion 2 Fort WorthAustin1aq – Texas16aq – Southernaq – Northwestern State/8 Minnesota9 Arizona StateLouisville5 USC12aq – Rice4aq – Louisville13aq – MarshallAmes6 Tennessee11aq – North Dakota State3 Iowa State14aq – Green BayAnn Arbor7 Oklahoma State10 Villanova2 Michigan15aq – IdahoRegion 3 SacramentoColumbia1 South Carolina16aq – Southern Utahaq – Mercer/8 West Virginia9 WashingtonIowa City5 Texas Tech12aq – Colorado State4 Iowa13aq – UC IrvineNashville6 Nebraska11 South Dakota State BYU/3 Vanderbilt14aq – CharlestonFort Worth7aq – Princeton10 Mississippi State2aq – TCU15aq – UTEP
There was plenty of shake-up over the first two months of the season. Teams like Texas Tech and Alabama have been much better than anticipated and remain unbeaten. Duke and Tennessee haven’t played to expectations. But the top five teams in Bracketology have stayed the same since the preseason — and it doesn’t look like that’s changing soon. No. 1 overall seed UConn and No. 2 Texas don’t look vulnerable. The Huskies are a heavy favorite to go undefeated in the regular season and only No. 3 overall South Carolina has pushed the Longhorns. Losses to either South Carolina or LSU in mid-January won’t be enough to knock Texas off the top line. The Gamecocks and Tigers also have firm grasps on their current positions. And with six Quad 1 wins, UCLA has built up a cushion and can afford a loss or maybe two in the Big Ten and still remain, at worst, the top No. 2 seed in the bracket.
Photo illo by ESPN Illustration, additional photos courtesy of Getty Images, Associated Press, Imagn, Icon Sportswire, EPA/Shutterstock
By Charlie Creme Updated: 12/30/2025 at 8 a.m. ETThe break in the game schedule is over and conference play is here. The jog to March now turns into a full sprint. Bracketology picks up the pace, too, with updated projections coming twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) beginning next week.
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 OutUtahLast Team InIndianaThere was plenty of shake-up over the first two months of the season. Teams like Texas Tech and Alabama have been much better than anticipated and remain unbeaten. Duke and Tennessee haven’t played to expectations. But the top five teams in Bracketology have stayed the same since the preseason — and it doesn’t look like that’s changing soon. No. 1 overall seed UConn and No. 2 Texas don’t look vulnerable. The Huskies are a heavy favorite to go undefeated in the regular season and only No. 3 overall South Carolina has pushed the Longhorns. Losses to either South Carolina or LSU in mid-January won’t be enough to knock Texas off the top line. The Gamecocks and Tigers also have firm grasps on their current positions. And with six Quad 1 wins, UCLA has built up a cushion and can afford a loss or maybe two in the Big Ten and still remain, at worst, the top No. 2 seed in the bracket.On the BubbleLast Four Byes Washington Mississippi State Villanova Virginia Last Four In South Dakota St BYU Kansas IndianaFirst Four Out Utah Syracuse Miami DukeNext Four Out Clemson Columbia Rhode Island Virginia Tech
Top Overall SeedUConnFirst Team OutUtahLast Team InIndiana
Last Four Byes Washington Mississippi State Villanova Virginia Last Four In South Dakota St BYU Kansas IndianaFirst Four Out Utah Syracuse Miami DukeNext Four Out Clemson Columbia Rhode Island Virginia Tech
11Kansas11Indiana16Southern16Northwestern State16Southern Utah16Mercer11South Dakota State11BYU
11Kansas11Indiana16Southern16Northwestern State16Southern Utah16Mercer11South Dakota State11BYU
Region 1 Fort WorthStorrs1 UConn – aq16 FDU – aq8 Georgia9 IllinoisSouth Bend5 Ole Miss12 Santa Clara – aq4 Notre Dame13 Army – aqCollege Park6 Alabama11 Kansas/ Indiana3 Maryland14 Howard – aqNorman7 NC State10 Richmond – aq2 Oklahoma15 Western Illinois – aqRegion 4 SacramentoLos Angeles1 UCLA – aq16 Northern Iowa – aq8 Stanford9 OregonChapel Hill5 Michigan State12 Ball State – aq4 North Carolina13 High Point – aqLexington6 Ohio State11 Fairfield – aq3 Kentucky14 Albany – aqBaton Rouge7 Baylor10 Virginia2 LSU15 Austin Peay – aqRegion 2 Fort WorthAustin1aq – Texas16aq – Southernaq – Northwestern State/8 Minnesota9 Arizona StateLouisville5 USC12aq – Rice4aq – Louisville13aq – MarshallAmes6 Tennessee11aq – North Dakota State3 Iowa State14aq – Green BayAnn Arbor7 Oklahoma State10 Villanova2 Michigan15aq – IdahoRegion 3 SacramentoColumbia1 South Carolina16aq – Southern Utahaq – Mercer/8 West Virginia9 WashingtonIowa City5 Texas Tech12aq – Colorado State4 Iowa13aq – UC IrvineNashville6 Nebraska11 South Dakota State BYU/3 Vanderbilt14aq – CharlestonFort Worth7aq – Princeton10 Mississippi State2aq – TCU15aq – UTEP
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