Monday, February 23, 2026

February 23rd 2026 Bracketology **Updated 12pm ET**

 Seed Power

1 * Duke

1 * Arizona

1 * Michigan

1 UConn

2 Houston

2 Iowa State

2 Purdue

2 * Florida

3 Illinois

3 Nebraska

3 * Gonzaga

3 Kansas

4 Texas Tech

4 Michigan St

4 Virginia

4 Alabama

5 Vanderbilt

5 Tennessee

5 Arkansas

5 * St. John's

6 BYU

6 Louisville

6 North Carolina

6 Wisconsin

7 NC State

7 * Utah St

7 Villanova

7 * Saint Louis

8 Kentucky

8 Iowa

8 SMU

8 Clemson

9 Miami

9 Georgia

9 UCF

9 Texas A&M

10 St. Mary's

10 Indiana

10 Texas

10 * Miami-OH

11 Auburn

11 Santa Clara

11a UCLA

11b Missouri

11c Ohio State

11d TCU

12 * South Florida

12 * Belmont

12 * Stephen F. Austin

12 * Yale

13 * High Point

13 * Liberty

13 * UNCW

13 * Hawai'i

14 * North Dakota St

14 * Austin Peay

14 * Portland St

14 * East Tenn St

15 * Navy

15 * Wright St

15 * Merrimack

15 *Utah Tech

16 *Appalachian St

16 * Howard

16a * Long Island

16a * UMBC

16a * Tennessee St

16a * Bethune Cookman

Last Four In: TCU, Ohio St., Missouri, UCLA

First Four Out: USC, New Mexico, Virginia Tech, VCU

Next Four Out: California, San Diego St., Seton Hall, Cincinnati


Thursday, February 19, 2026

February 19th 2026 Bracketology **Updated 1:30pm ET**

 Seed Power Team

1 1 * Michigan

1 2 * Duke

1 3 * Arizona

1 4 Iowa State

2 5 Houston

2 6 UConn

2 7 Illinois

2 8 Purdue

3 9 Kansas

3 10 * Florida

3 11 Nebraska

3 12 * Gonzaga

4 13 Michigan St

4 14 Vanderbilt

4 15 Alabama

4 16 Virginia

5 17 Texas Tech

5 18 Arkansas

5 19 Louisville

5 20 * St. John's

6 21 Tennessee

6 22 BYU

6 23 North Carolina

6 24 Villanova

7 25 * Utah St

7 26 NC State

7 27 Clemson

7 28 Kentucky

8 29 Iowa

8 30 Wisconsin

8 31 * Saint Louis

8 32 Miami

9 33 SMU

9 34 UCF

9 35 Indiana

9 36 St. Mary's

10 37 Georgia

10 38 Texas A&M

10 39 Texas

10 40 USC

11 41 * Miami-OH

11 42 Missouri

11a 43 Auburn

11b 44 Santa Clara

11c 45 UCLA

11d 46 Ohio State

12 47 * South Florida

12 48 * Belmont

12 49 * Liberty

12 50 * Stephen F. Austin

13 51 * Yale

13 52 * High Point

13 53 * Hawai'i

13 54 * UNCW

14 55 * Cal Baptist

14 56 * North Dakota St

14 57 * Austin Peay

14 58 * Navy

15 59 * Portland St

15 60 * East Tenn St

15 61 * Wright St

15 62 * Troy

16 63 * Merrimack

16 64 * UT Martin

16a 65 * Long Island

16a 66 * Howard

16a 67 * Bethune Cookman

16a 68 *NJIT

Last Four In: Ohio St., UCLA, Santa Clara, Auburn

First Four Out: TCU, New Mexico, San Diego St., Virginia Tech

Next Four Out: VCU, California, WVU, Arizona St.

Notes:

I struggled to find an 8th team out today. I put Arizona State there, but realistically the probably have to be about perfect to be in the field heading into the conference tournament. There are similar teams that if they win there last 4/5/6 games, it could be enough to push them from not even in the first 8 out, to in the field. Teams like Arizona State, Cincinatti, Wake Forest, Baylor, Seton Hall, Oklahoma, Stanford, Oklahoma State.



Wednesday, February 18, 2026

February 18th 2026 **Updated 1pm ET**

 Seed Power Team

1 1 * Michigan

1 2 * Duke

1 3 * Arizona

1 4 * UConn

2 5 Iowa State

2 6 Houston

2 7 Illinois

2 8 Purdue

3 9 Kansas

3 10 * Florida

3 11 Nebraska

3 12 Vanderbilt

4 13 * Gonzaga

4 14 Michigan St

4 15 Texas Tech

4 16 Virginia

5 17 Alabama

5 18 Arkansas

5 19 Louisville

5 20 St. John's

6 21 Tennessee

6 22 BYU

6 23 North Carolina

6 24 Clemson

7 25 Villanova

7 26 NC State

7 27 * Utah St

7 28 Iowa

8 29 Kentucky

8 30 * Saint Louis

8 31 Wisconsin

8 32 Miami

9 33 SMU

9 34 UCF

9 35 Indiana

9 36 USC

10 37 St. Mary's

10 38 Auburn

10 39 Georgia

10 40 Texas A&M

11 41 Texas

11 42 * Miami-OH

11a 43 Santa Clara

11b 44 UCLA

11c 45 Ohio State

11d 46 TCU

12 47 * South Florida

12 48 * Belmont

12 49 * Liberty

12 50 * Stephen F. Austin

13 51 * Yale

13 52 * High Point

13 53 * Hawai'i

13 54 * UNCW

14 55 * Cal Baptist

14 56 * Austin Peay

14 57 * North Dakota St

14 58 * Portland St

15 59 * Navy

15 60 * East Tenn St

15 61 * Wright St

15 62 * Merrimack

16 63 *Appalachian St

16 64 * UT Martin

16a 65 * Long Island

16a 66 * Howard

16a 67 * Bethune Cookman

16a 68 *NJIT

Last Four In: TCU, Ohio St., UCLA, Santa Clara

First Four Out: Missouri, New Mexico, San Diego St., VCU

Next Four Out: WVU, Va Tech, Seton Hall, California

Notes:

- Iowa State has a shot to take the last 1 seed away from UConn. They have 5 games, left 3 Q1, and 2 Q2. UConn's last 5 are 2 Q1, 2 Q2, and a Q3. Whoever does best in that last stretch could get it and Houston is still in the mix too. I dont think Illinois/Purdue could get a 1 unless they win out through the Big Ten tournament.

- On the bubble. Ohio State is in my latest field, despite not having a Q1 win. Their metrics are better than other bubble teams and they are 6-1 in Q2 and have no bad losses. Still according to my records since the quads began, no power 4 team has gotten an at-large without at least 1 Q1 win. They do have 3 Q1 chances left in their final 5 and at the big 10 tournament as well. They probably need to get at least 1 to hold their spot. 

- Another curious case could be Auburn. I have Auburn as a 10 seed right now, but their overall record of 14-11 is not good. Georgia in 1999, is the only team to get an at-large bid only being 2 games over .500. That team also played the toughest schedule in the country like Auburn. Auburns final 6 feature a Q3, 2 Q2s, and 2 Q1s. Then the SEC tournament. A 2-4 finish would have them probably out at 16-15 heading into the SEC tournament. A 3-3 finish would have them at 17-14 and probably in heading into the SEC tournament, but probably needing a win to feel good. 


Monday, February 16, 2026

February 16th 2026 **Updated 130pm ET**

 Seed Power Team

1 1 * Michigan

1 2 * Duke

1 3 Arizona

1 4 * Houston

2 5 * UConn

2 6 Purdue

2 7 Iowa State

2 8 Illinois

3 9 Nebraska

3 10 Kansas

3 11 * Florida

3 12 * Gonzaga

4 13 Vanderbilt

4 14 Texas Tech

4 15 Michigan St

4 16 Virginia

5 17 Alabama

5 18 Arkansas

5 19 Louisville

5 20 North Carolina

6 21 St. John's

6 22 Tennessee

6 23 BYU

6 24 * Saint Louis

7 25 Kentucky

7 26 Wisconsin

7 27 Clemson

7 28 Villanova

8 29 * Utah St

8 30 Miami

8 31 NC State

8 32 Iowa

9 33 UCF

9 34 SMU

9 35 Indiana

9 36 St. Mary's

10 37 Auburn

10 38 Texas A&M

10 39 USC

10 40 Texas

11a 41 UCLA

11 42 * Miami-OH

11 43 Santa Clara

11b 44 Georgia

11c 45 TCU

11d 46 San Diego St

12 47 * South Florida

12 48 * Belmont

12 49 * Liberty

12 50 * Stephen F. Austin

13 51 * Yale

13 52 * High Point

13 53 *Utah Valley

13 54 * Hawai'i

14 55 * UNCW

14 56 * North Dakota St

14 57 * Austin Peay

14 58 * Portland St

15 59 * East Tenn St

15 60 * Navy

15 61 * Wright St

15 62 * South Alabama

16 63 * Merrimack

16 64 * UT Martin

16a 65 * Long Island

16a 66 * Bethune Cookman

16a 67 *NJIT

16a 68 * Morgan St

Last Four In: SDSU, TCU, Georgia, Santa Clara

First Four Out: Missouri, Ohio St, New Mexico, WVU

Next Four out: Va Tech, Seton Hall, California, VCU

Thursday, February 12, 2026

February 12th 2026 Bracketology **Updated 12pm ET**

 Seed Power Team

1 1 * Arizona

1 2 * Michigan

1 3 * Duke

1 4 * UConn

2 5 Houston

2 6 Purdue

2 7 Illinois

2 8 Iowa State

3 9 Kansas

3 10 Nebraska

3 11 Michigan St

3 12 * Florida

4 13 Gonzaga

4 14 Vanderbilt

4 15 Virginia

4 16 Texas Tech

5 17 Alabama

5 18 Arkansas

5 19 North Carolina

5 20 St. John's

6 21 Louisville

6 22 BYU

6 23 Tennessee

6 24 Kentucky

7 25 * Saint Louis

7 26 Clemson

7 27 NC State

7 28 Villanova

8 29 * Utah St

8 30 Wisconsin

8 31 UCF

8 32 Iowa

9 33 SMU

9 34 Auburn

9 35 Indiana

9 36 Texas A&M

10 37 St. Mary's

10 38 Miami

10 39 Georgia

10 40 UCLA

11a 41 USC

11 42 *Santa Clara

11 43 * Miami-OH

11b 44 Missouri

11c 45 Texas

11d 46 Virginia Tech

12 47 * South Florida

12 48 * Belmont

12 49 * Liberty

12 50 * Stephen F. Austin

13 51 * Yale

13 52 * High Point

13 53 *Utah Valley

13 54 * Hawai'i

14 55 * UNCW

14 56 * North Dakota St

14 57 * Austin Peay

14 58 * Portland St

15 59 * East Tenn St

15 60 * Wright St

15 61 * Navy

15 62 *Appalachian St

16 63 * Merrimack

16 64 * UT Martin

16a 65 * Long Island

16a 66 * Bethune Cookman

16a 67 *NJIT

16a 68 *Morgan St

Last Four In (First Team Listed is Last Team IN): Virginia Tech, Texas, Missouri, USC

First Four Out: Ohio St., TCU, SDSU, New Mexico

Next Four Out: Seton Hall, California, Oklahoma St., VCU

Comments:
I moved TCU back out of the bracket today, as I thought Virginia Tech's resume now is overall better with the win at Clemson right now. TCU just has one of those odd resumes with some huge wins but also 2 bad losses and sketch efficiency metrics. They just need to keep wining.

Ohio State has a chance for a huge statement win this weekend vs Virginia on a neutral floor. Ohio States resume is a classic power league bubble resume. A little good, not much bad, but nothing really good. They need to spice it up with a win here, similar to how Miami did earlier this week by beating UNC.

California could have picked up a Q1 win last night vs Syracuse on the road but lost in 2OT. It was costly and knocked them down to the Next Four Out. The problem for Cal is that of their 6 games left, only 3 are Q1/Q2 (Stanford, SMU, @ WF) and none of those really move the needle except maybe the home game vs SMU. They have to win the 3 Q3 games left and probably 2 of those 3 to be in at large contention heading into the ACC tournament.

I am traveling through the weekend, so my next update may not be until Wednesday unless I get a little time Monday.


Wednesday, February 11, 2026

February 11th 2026 Bracketology **Updated 2pm ET**

Seed Power Team

1 1 * Arizona

1 2 * Michigan

1 3 * Duke

1 4 Houston

2 5 * UConn

2 6 Purdue

2 7 Illinois

2 8 Iowa State

3 9 Kansas

3 10 Nebraska

3 11 Michigan St

3 12 * Florida

4 13 Gonzaga

4 14 Vanderbilt

4 15 Virginia

4 16 Texas Tech

5 17 Alabama

5 18 Arkansas

5 19 North Carolina

5 20 St. John's

6 21 Louisville

6 22 BYU

6 23 Clemson

6 24 Tennessee

7 25 * Saint Louis

7 26 Kentucky

7 27 Iowa

7 28 NC State

8 29 Villanova

8 30 * Utah St

8 31 Wisconsin

8 32 UCF

9 33 Texas A&M

9 34 SMU

9 35 Auburn

9 36 Indiana

10 37 Georgia

10 38 USC

10 39 St. Mary's

10 40 Miami

11a 41 UCLA

11 42 Santa Clara

11 43 * Miami-OH

11b 44 Texas

11c 45 TCU

11d 46 Missouri

12 47 * Tulsa

12 48 * Belmont

12 49 * Liberty

12 50 * Stephen F. Austin

13 51 * Yale

13 52 * High Point

13 53 * Utah Valley

13 54 * Hawai'i

14 55 * UNCW

14 56 * Troy

14 57 * North Dakota St

14 58 * Austin Peay

15 59 * Portland St

15 60 * Wright St

15 61 * East Tenn St

15 62 * Navy

16 63 * Merrimack

16 64 * UT Martin

16a 65 * Long Island

16a 66 * Bethune Cookman

16a 67 *NJIT

16a 68 *Morgan St

Last Four In: (First team listed is last team in): Missouri, TCU, Texas, UCLA

First Four Out: California, SDSU, Ohio St., Oklahoma St.

Next Four Out: New Mexico, VCU, Va Tech, Seton Hall

I have put the teams in a bracket for the first time, but it may not be readable on this page. You can right click and open it I assume to see a bigger version.


Comments:

- TCUs win last night over Iowa State shows what a big/huge win can still do this time of year as it took them from my Next Four Out to in the field.

- Any of those teams in the first 8 out and you can throw WVU into that, could quickly jump up with an elite 1A win.

- It is also the time of year to start looking at leagues that could be bid stealers.

American - Tulsa is right now not an at-large worthy team to me. But they arent far off and the committee can do weird things. So bubbly teams should hope that Tulsa wins the AAC.

A-10 - This is the obvious one. St. Louis will be in unless they pick up a couple of bad losses.But VCU, GMU, GW, Dayton, Davidson are all capable of winning the conference tournament. This will be a closely followed conference tournament by bubble teams.

Big East - This is weird to say, but right now there are only 3 teams worthy of at-large status. UConn, St. Johns, Villanova. Now UConn and St. Johns are heavy favorites to win this, but Creighton, Seton Hall could get hot and make this interesting.

MAC - Another obvious one like the A-10. Miami-OH is 24-0 but their resume is not full of big wins, 0 Q1 and 2 Q2 over Akron and Wright St. The remaining schedule is only Q3/Q4 games, so they can maybe afford to lose 1 and still have an at-large worthy resume. If they can make the conference tournament undefeated or 30-1 they likely have an at-large bid. So this will be a big one for bubble teams. Akron is a good team and their only loss in league is to Miami-Oh so they are very capable.

Mountain West - Utah State is the only sure at-large team as of now. SDSU is bubbly and not in my current bracket but close. Bubble teams need to hope Utah State wins the conf tournament.

WCC - And then of course always the WCC, although Gonzaga or St. Marys always seem to find a way to win the league tournament. One of those two teams have won the conference tournament every year since 2008 and it has only not happened twice since 1998. Santa Clara has an at-large worthy resume right now and if they can avoid a loss to Seattle (Q3) or Oregon St (Q4) and pickup one more quality win Gonzaga, @ San Francisco, @ St. Marys they should be good to go. But if another team not of those 3 win, then a bid is stolen.

I will of course zoom in on these as we get closer to conf tournament time. but to feel really comfortable from conf tournament chaos, you likely want to be at least 5/6 spots deep in heading into the conference tournament, and even then it isnt always enough.



Monday, February 9, 2026

February 6th 2026 Bracketology **Updated 1pm ET**

 Seed Power Team

1 1 * Arizona

1 2 * Michigan

1 3 * Duke

1 4 Houston

2 5 * UConn

2 6 Nebraska

2 7 Illinois

2 8 Iowa State

3 9 Purdue

3 10 Kansas

3 11 Michigan St

3 12 * Florida

4 13 Gonzaga

4 14 North Carolina

4 15 Virginia

4 16 Vanderbilt

5 17 Texas Tech

5 18 Alabama

5 19 St. John's

5 20 Arkansas

6 21 Clemson

6 22 Tennessee

6 23 BYU

6 24 Louisville

7 25 * Saint Louis

7 26 Kentucky

7 27 Iowa

7 28 NC State

8 29 * Utah St

8 30 Villanova

8 31 Texas A&M

8 32 UCF

9 33 Auburn

9 34 SMU

9 35 Indiana

9 36 Wisconsin

10 37 Georgia

10 38 USC

10 39 St. Mary's

10 40 UCLA

11 41 *Santa Clara

11 42 * Miami-OH

11a 43 Texas

11b 44 California

11c 45 Oklahoma St

11d 46 Miami

12 47 * Tulsa

12 48 * Belmont

12 49 * Liberty

12 50 * Stephen F. Austin

13 51 * Yale

13 52 * High Point

13 53 *Utah Valley

13 54 * Hawai'i

14 55 * Troy

14 56 * North Dakota St

14 57 * Austin Peay

14 58 * Portland St

15 59 * Wright St

15 60 * East Tenn St

15 61 *Charleston

15 62 * Navy

16 63 * Merrimack

16 64 * UT Martin

16a 65 * Long Island

16a 66 * Bethune Cookman

16a 67 *NJIT

16a 68 *Morgan St

Last Four In (1st team listed is last team in) Miami, Oklahoma St, California, Texas

First Four Out: Virginia Tech, San Diego St, Ohio St., Missouri

Next Four Out: New Mexico, VCU, Seton Hall, TCU