NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections for Week 14: Bubble Teams, Top Seeds

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Now is when the NCAA Tournament bracket projections and predictions start to get fun.

A fantastic season so far is setting up a potentially amazing tournament with a likely loaded group of one seeds, and several big teams starting to step up at just the right time.

Going into Week 14, and as February starts, here’s our call on what all the seeds will be.

NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections

Jan 31, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) reacts after scoring during the first half against the BYU Cougars at Allen Fieldhouse. © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Most Important Games This Week

These might not be the biggest games – Duke vs North Carolina is sort of a big deal – but these should have the most tournament impact.

Monday: Kansas at Texas Tech
Tuesday: Indiana at USC
Wednesday: Utah State at New Mexico
Thursday: UC Santa Barbara at UC Davis
Friday: UConn at St. John’s
Saturday: Illinois at Michigan State
Sunday: Michigan at Ohio State

Projected First Four Out

New Mexico (MWest)
TCU (Big 12)
Texas (SEC)
Virginia Tech (ACC)

Projected Last Four In

aka, these four will probably be knocked out once the conference tournament weirdness kicks in

Ohio State (Big Ten)
San Diego State (MWest)
Seton Hall (Big East)
USC (Big Ten)

Four Teams That Might Screw Everyone Up

aka, these four are projected out teams that might end up getting in after going on a splashy run in their respective conference tournaments

Creighton (Big East)
Florida Atlantic (American)
LSU (SEC)
Washington (Big Ten)

True Bubble Teams

aka, these four are probably closer to being in than we have them

Butler (Big East)
Cal (ACC)
George Mason (A-10)
Missouri (SEC)

All Seeds In Alphabetical Order

Projected 16 Seeds

Austin Peay (ASun)
Navy (Patriot)

Teams in Play-In Games
Bethune-Cookman (SWAC)
LIU (NEC)
Morgan State (MEAC)
Vermont (America East)

Projected 15 Seeds

Harvard (Ivy)
Marist (MAAC)
Montana State (Big Sky)
UT Martin (OVC)

Projected 14 Seeds

ETSU (SoCon)
Hofstra (Coastal)
Oakland (Horizon)
Utah Valley (WAC)

Projected 13 Seeds

App State (Sun Belt)
Belmont (MVC)
McNeese (Southland)
UC Irvine (Big West)

Projected 12 Seeds

Liberty (CUSA)
Miami University (MAC)
North Dakota State (Summit)
Winthrop (Big South)

Projected 11 Seeds

Santa Clara West Coast
Tulsa American

Teams In Play-In Games
Ohio State (Big Ten)
San Diego State (MWest)
Seton Hall (Big East)
USC (Big Ten)

Projected 10 Seeds

Miami (ACC)
Saint Mary’s (West Coast)
UCLA (Big Ten)
Utah State (MWest)

Projected 9 Seeds

Indiana (Big Ten)
SMU (ACC)
UCF (Big 12)
Wisconsin (Big Ten)

Projected 8 Seeds

Clemson (ACC)
Georgia (SEC)
Texas A&M (SEC)
Villanova (Big East)

Projected 7 Seeds

Auburn (SEC)
Iowa (Big Ten)
Kentucky (SEC)
NC State (ACC)

Projected 6 Seeds

Louisville (ACC)
North Carolina (ACC)
St. John’s (Big East)
Tennessee (SEC)

Projected 5 Seeds

Alabama (SEC)
Arkansas (SEC)
Saint Louis (A-10)
Texas Tech (Big 12)

Projected 4 Seeds

BYU (Big 12)
Kansas (Big 12)
Purdue (Big Ten)
Vanderbilt (SEC)

Projected 3 Seeds

Florida (SEC)
Illinois (Big Ten)
Michigan State (Big Ten)
Virginia (ACC)

Projected 2 Seeds

Gonzaga (West Coast)
Houston (Big 12)
Iowa State (Big 12)
Nebraska (Big Ten)

Projected 1 Seeds

Arizona (Big 12)
Duke (ACC)
Michigan (Big Ten)
UConn (Big East)

This story was originally published by College Football News on Feb 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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