Joe Lunardi Bracketology Update: Latest Seeds, Bubble Teams, and Changes Revealed

February 26, 2026 | 10:28 AM EST

As February winds down, this just means that March Madness is almost here. While the top four have barely moved, some teams have been showing a lot of promise. There is a mad scramble for the lower seeds as a lot of teams try to get in, while those who are likeliest to enter the tournament are now just jockeying for better seeds.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi usually has the pulse on which teams will be entering the prestigious national tournament, and he has now updated which teams could possibly compete next month and which teams they will be facing off against in the four regions.

Joe Lunardi Bracketology By Region

East

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 App State
No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Georgia
No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Liberty
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 North Dakota State
No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 Missouri or Santa Clara
No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 14 Austin Peay
No. 7 Utah State vs. No. 10 UCF
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Utah Tech

Midwest

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 SE Missouri or B-CU
No. 8 SMU vs. No. 9 Texas A&M
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 Belmont
No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 SF Austin
No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 TCU or New Mexico
No. 3 Florida vs. No. 14 ETSU
No. 7 Villanova vs. No. 10 UCLA
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Wright State

South

No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 UMBC or Howard
No. 8 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Clemson
No. 5 Arkansas vs. No. 12 Yale
No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 13 North Carolina Wilmington
No. 6 St; Louis vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)
No. 3 Nebraska vs. No. 11 Navy
No. 7 Wisconsin vs. No. 10 Texas
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Portland State

West

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island
No. 8 Miami (Florida) vs. No. 8 St. Mary’s
No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 South Florida
No. 4 Michigan State vs. No. 13 High Point
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Indiana
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 UC Irvine
No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Auburn
No. 2 Illinois vs. No. 15 Merrimack

Teams on the Bubble

Last Four Byes

Texas
UCLA
Auburn
Indiana

Last Four In

Missouri
Santa Clara
TCU
New Mexico

First Four Out

Ohio State
USC
Cal
San Diego State

Next Four Out

VCU
Virginia Tech
Seaton Hall
West Virginia

The SEC will have the most teams in March madness at 11, followed by the Big Ten at nine and then the ACC and the Big 12 at eight teams each.