Bracketology: Arizona vs. Houston key in race for NCAA Event No. 1 seed

Nobody within the combine for the No. 1 total seed or the fourth No. 1 seed within the 2026 NCAA Event has flinched throughout convention event motion, which units up a high-stakes Saturday for the Bracketology image. Duke and Arizona will every be vying for convention event titles whereas Michigan is taking part in within the Massive Ten Event semifinals.

The Blue Devils, Wolverines and Wildcats are locks to be No. 1 seeds no matter what occurs. However their order will probably be decided by the ultimate outcomes that transpire earlier than Sunday’s choice present on CBS. If Duke beats Virginia within the ACC Event title recreation, it will likely be well-positioned to assert the No. 1 total seed. 

Nonetheless, there’s little separating the Blue Devils from Arizona and Michigan. If Arizona takes out Houston for the Massive 12 Event crown, the Wildcats will even have a robust case to be No. 1 total. 

Then, there’s Michigan, which is assembly Wisconsin with a spot in Sunday’s Massive Ten Event title recreation on the road. The Wolverines will probably be looking for to avenge a Jan. 10 residence loss in opposition to the Badgers, who handed them their solely Massive Ten lack of the common season. Michigan is alive and effectively within the race for the No. 1 total spot, particularly if Duke falters.

Finally, the race for the No. 1 total seed is a battle for bragging rights. The anticipated areas for every staff will not change, no matter their order. However claiming the highest spot within the subject of 68 is an honor, and that distinction will probably be earned as convention tournaments come to a detailed.

Stand up-to-date outcomes, plus what they imply for the NCAA Event bubble and seeding with our CBS Sports activities Bracketology LIVE BLOG.

Bracketology prime seeds

Try the complete subject of 68 on the CBS Sports activities Bracketology hub.

Battle for No. 2 seeds

The battle for the final two No. 2 seeds within the 2026 NCAA Event is coming right down to the wire after a consequential Friday of motion. Purdue has risen onto the No. 2 seed line for now in CBS Sports activities Bracketology, however its endurance there could also be dictated by its Massive Ten Event semifinal showdown with UCLA on Saturday.

If the Boilermakers win that one, they’re well-positioned to remain. In the event that they lose, they’re susceptible to dropping again behind Iowa State for the reason that Cyclones personal a decisive head-to-head win over Purdue from Dec. 6. A side-by-side scrub of the 2 groups inside the committee room may go the Cyclones’ approach for that purpose.

Then, there’s the Virginia query. If the Cavaliers upset Duke within the ACC Event title recreation, may the Cavaliers enter the No. 2 seed dialog? Slaying the Blue Devils would carry a big enhance for a Virginia staff that already charges as a top-10 staff within the results-based metrics utilized by the choice committee. The Cavaliers are lagging a bit in predictive metrics, however beating Duke would assist change that.

The ultimate No. 1 seed debate

If Houston takes out Arizona within the Massive 12 Event title recreation on Saturday, the Cougars could have a strong argument to be the fourth No. 1 seed. The spot is Florida’s to lose, and the Gators do not seem able to relinquish it anytime quickly. But when UF fails to win the SEC Event and the Cougars topple Arizona, they are going to be in a major place.

UConn must win the Massive East Event over St. John’s and sure wants Houston and Florida to lose with the intention to have a shot on the fourth No. 1 seed.