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Joe Lunardi
By the time Selection Sunday arrives, there will have been plenty of movement in the projected field of 68 for the 2026 NCAA tournament regarding the teams that are in, as well as those looking to get in.
While our Tuesday and Friday Bracketology updates allow us to look at the race to March Madness holistically in a week, results every day matter and can affect teams — whether they’re playing or not.
Men’s Bracketologist Joe Lunardi is tracking every relevant game every night — and why shouldn’t you?
Here, we provide an inside look at the headlines and upcoming matchups that inform Joey Brackets’ calculations on any given night, as he projects the teams that could have their names called on Selection Sunday (March 15).
A couple of housekeeping things: This page will update every day around lunchtime, between Tuesday and Saturday to start. Games are listed in order of importance to the bracket changes. A team’s projection on that day is listed in parentheses if not otherwise noted.
Scores available here. All times Eastern
Projected field of 68 |
NCAA tournament details
Saturday, Jan. 24
HEADLINES THIS WEEKEND
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State of the top seeds: All four current No. 1 seeds (Arizona, Michigan, Duke, UConn) can survive a loss this weekend and remain on the top line.
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State of the bubble: All of the “Last Four In” group (UCLA, New Mexico, USC, Virginia Tech) are vulnerable with losses. If that happens, “First Four Out” teams Stanford and Santa Clara are close enough to move up with wins.
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Who else is vulnerable? Among the “Last Four Byes,” Ohio State and Seton Hall are vulnerable to a fall with losses.
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Notable moves: The ACC increased its total number of projected bids to nine when Virginia Tech joined the field. Remember, it had just four last year.
GAMES THAT COULD AFFECT THE BRACKET
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(3) Illinois at (2) Purdue. The two teams likely trade seeds if Illinois can pull off a win at Mackey Arena. 3 p.m., FOX
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(2) Houston at (4) Texas Tech. Of the four 2-seeds, Houston is the most likely to move up to a 1-seed by March. 2 p.m., ESPN
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(6) North Carolina at (4) Virginia. The surprise here is that North Carolina needs the win so much more than Virginia to hold steady. Noon, ESPN2
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(Next Four Out) TCU at (Next Four Out) Baylor. Only the winner remains a realistic at-large candidate. 6 p.m., ESPN2
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(7) Georgia at (First Four Out) Texas. Will the Texas roller coaster shift back in the right direction with a win here? 1 p.m. SEC Network
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(Considered) California at (First Team Out) Stanford. The Cardinal must win to have a chance at returning to the field. 8 p.m., ACCN
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(Last Team In) Virginia Tech at (6) Louisville. With a loss, the Hokies could fall just as easily as they slipped into the current field. 2:15 p.m., The CW Network
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(12) Yale at Penn. A tricky matchup for the Ivy League favorites against the much-improved Quakers at the Palestra. 2 p.m., ESPNU
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(16) Saint Peter’s at Merrimack. This one’s a winner takes all for the MAAC automatic qualifier in our next projection. 3 p.m., ESPN+
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