The race for No. 1 seeds within the 2026 NCAA Event is heating up, and this weekend will present important information factors for a handful of groups jockeying for a spot on the highest line. As of Friday, Michigan, Duke, Arizona and Nebraska are No. 1 seeds in CBS Sports activities Bracketology. However a number of others aren’t far behind and have large video games on faucet.
Take Houston, for instance. Presently a No. 2 seed in our mannequin’s projection, the Cougars are 17-1 (5-0 Huge 12) and driving an 11-game profitable streak. They may have one other likelihood to construct their resume on the highway in opposition to Texas Tech on Saturday. A second victory over the Purple Raiders, mixed with a loss by any of the No. 1 seeds, would make Houston’s case for a promotion compelling.
Additionally on the Saturday docket for present No. 2 seeds in our mannequin:
These contests are usually higher-caliber alternatives than what’s in retailer for the No. 1 seeds this weekend. Michigan is the lone group from among the many No. 1 seeds in our mannequin going through a group within the CBS Sports activities Bracketology discipline. However even the Wolverines’ Friday dwelling sport in opposition to Ohio State is only a Quad 2 contest.
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A shock loss from a No. 1 seed mixed with an enormous win for any of the No. 2 seeds might create some volatility.
With simply seven weeks to go till Choice Sunday, listed below are the most recent outcomes from the CBS Sports activities Bracketology mannequin.
Take a look at the total discipline of 68 on the CBS Sports activities Bracketology hub.
Bracketology seeds
The NCAA Event discipline and seeding as projected by SportsLine’s Bracketology simulation
On the bubble
| Final 4 in | File | NET |
| Missouri | 13-6 | 68 |
| USC | 14-5 | 55 |
| Seton Corridor | 14-5 | 45 |
| Va. Tech | 15-5 | 49 |
| First 4 out | File | NET |
| Texas | 11-8 | 43 |
| Okla. St. | 14-5 | 73 |
| Butler | 12-7 | 50 |
| TCU | 12-7 | 46 |
Bracketology takeaways
Virginia doing heavy lifting
The 2025-26 Virginia Cavaliers aren’t simply respiration life into their very own program, they’ve additionally introduced hope to a few others desperately making an attempt to snap NCAA Event droughts. With every passing victory for the Cavaliers (16-2, 5-1 ACC), the resumes of Butler and Virginia Tech — each squarely on the bubble — get just a little higher due to their victories over UVa.
For the reason that calendar flipped to 2026, the Cavaliers personal the nation’s greatest energy score at barttorvik.com. Butler and Virginia Tech must be their largest followers. The Bulldogs are simply 12-7 (3-5 Huge East) and have three Quad 2 losses, however are nonetheless lurking on the bubble as one of many CBS Sports activities Bracketology mannequin’s “First 4 Out” coming into their Friday dwelling sport with Marquette. An 80-73 win over Virginia on Nov. 23 on the Greenbrier Tip-Off is to thank.
On the time, it was unclear simply how good the Cavaliers can be in coach Ryan Odom’s debut marketing campaign. UVa has proved itself to be the most effective groups within the ACC, if not all of faculty basketball. That is not only a good win for Butler; it now appears like a possible season-defining victory for a program looking for its first Huge Dance look since 2018.
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Humorous because it got here in entrance of 1,209 spectators inside a West Virginia ballroom on an NFL Sunday when solely diehard school basketball followers have been paying consideration. Virginia can also be performing some critical work for rival Virginia Tech’s resume. With no 95-85 triple-overtime win win over the Cavaliers from Dec. 31, the Hokies can be on the incorrect facet of the bubble. As a substitute, they’re within the Final 4 coming into Saturday’s showdown at Louisville.
Convention race tightening up
The race for many bids among the many high-major conferences is a lifeless warmth between the Huge Ten, ACC and SEC coming into the weekend. Every of the three have 10 groups within the discipline, in accordance with the CBS Sports activities Bracketology mannequin. Whereas the Huge 12 lags behind with seven, it is impressively robust on the high. Six of the Huge 12’s contingent are slotted as No. 5 seeds or higher within the present mannequin. Plus, Oklahoma State and TCU are among the many First 4 Out, and Baylor and West Virginia additionally stay within the hunt for at-large bids.
Beforehand, the SEC led the way in which with 11 groups within the discipline, in accordance with our mannequin. However Texas’ back-to-back losses in opposition to Texas A&M and Kentucky have dropped it to First 4 Out territory coming into Saturday’s sport in opposition to Georgia.