ClutchPoints’ Bracketology: Predicting the 2026 NCAA Tournament field before the Holidays

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ClutchPoints’ Bracketology: Predicting the 2026 NCAA Tournament field before the Holidays

Troy Finnegan, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Dec 15, 2025 ·

4 min read

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What a time to be a Nebraska basketball fan, huh? After an impressive 9-0 start to non-conference play, Fred Hoiberg and company had to put their feet to the fire at the start of Big Ten play.

The Cornhuskers passed with flying colors, routing Wisconsin at home and upsetting Illinois on the road to get to 11-0 and put themselves in position to be a top-four seed.

Arizona continued to roll with impressive wins over Auburn and Alabama, doing just enough to take the No. 1 overall seed from Michigan. Those two are firmly ahead of the pack at the moment, especially after Purdue's loss to Iowa State. Tommy Lloyd and company are finally starting to get the best out of Brayden Burries , which is a terrifying thought for the rest of the Big 12.

The final team that made a big statement recently was Arkansas. John Calipari has his squad clicking, using its athleticism and length to trouble some of the better teams in the nation. Since the last edition of Bracketology here at ClutchPoints, the Razorbacks knocked off Louisville and Texas Tech to get to 8-2 on the season.

Arkansas was a big riser in the latest Bracketology with the non-conference slate winding down. Who else made the bracket?

Bold = Automatic Qualifier

Note – Without many conference games underway, the AQ for each conference is awarded to the highest-rated team from each league according to KenPom.

West Region

1. Arizona 16. Southern/Norfolk State

8. Indiana9. SMU

5. Auburn 12. Belmont

4. Nebraska 13. Utah Valley

6. Georgia11. Villanova/Wisconsin

3. Michigan State 14. St. Thomas

7. Texas Tech 10. Saint Louis

2. Vanderbilt 15. Troy

Midwest Region

1. Michigan 16. Southeast Missouri/Long Island

8. St. Mary's9. NC State

5. St. John's 12. Yale

4. Arkansas 13. UC San Diego

6. USC11. UCF/LSU

3. Louisville 14. Lipscomb

7. Kentucky10. Miami (FL)

2. UConn 15. Wright State

East Region

1. Duke 16. Vermont

8. Tennessee 9. Utah State

5. Kansas 12. Memphis

4. Alabama 13. High Point

6. Virginia11. Ohio State

3. BYU 14. East Tennessee State

7. Florida10. Baylor

2. Purdue 15. Siena

South Region

1. Iowa State 16. Colgate

8. UCLA9. Seton Hall

5. North Carolina 12. McNeese

4. Illinois 13. UNC Wilmington

6. Iowa 11. Akron

3. Houston 14. Liberty

7. Clemson10. Butler

2. Gonzaga 15. Northern Colorado

Bubble Watch

Last Four Byes: Miami (FL), Butler, Baylor, Ohio State

Last Four In: UCF, LSU, Villanova, Wisconsin

First Four Out: Oklahoma State, TCU, Missouri, Arizona State

Next Four Out: Wake Forest, Colorado, Boise State, Virginia Tech

Multi-bid leagues

Big Ten – 11

SEC – 9

Big 12 – 8

ACC – 8

Big East – 5

WCC – 2

Games of the Week

Tuesday, Dec. 16 – Louisville at Tennessee

Wednesday, Dec. 17 – Vanderbilt at Memphis

Saturday, Dec. 20 – St. John's vs. Kentucky

Saturday, Dec. 20 – Ohio State vs. North Carolina

Saturday, Dec. 20 – Houston vs. Arkansas

Saturday, Dec. 20 – Auburn vs. Purdue

Saturday, Dec. 20 – Duke vs. Texas Tech

Biggest storylines of the week

Kentucky snapped out of its free fall, and quieted the Mark Pope job security noise, with an impressive win over Indiana on Saturday at Rupp Arena. However, Indiana is still getting its feet wet under Darian DeVries, and how good the Hoosiers actually are remains to be seen. On Saturday, Kentucky gets an even bigger test on a neutral floor against Rick Pitino and St. John's.

After a very impressive showing at the Players Era Festival, Tennessee has been sliding recently and is coming off of back-to-back losses to Syracuse and Illinois. Now, the Vols are back home to welcome an explosive Louisville squad as they look to get back on track.

Arkansas is getting hot in the non-conference, but there's an argument to be made that a neutral site game against Houston will be its biggest test on this current win streak.

Duke plays Texas Tech on Saturday, which means Cam Boozer and JT Toppin are going head to head in a matchup of two Wooden Award favorites. Enjoy that, and the rest of the week ahead as the non-conference slate winds down.

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