October 23, 2026 – The projected field, the seeds, and the matchups are based on the results of games played through October 21, 2026.
The predictions are made from the most recent RPI and projections of conference champions based on current standings. The projections will be revised weekly to reflect the results of games played.
Georgetown Region
First Round – Game 1: Fairfield (MAAC – Automatic) at Rutgers (Big 10)
Second Round: Game 1 Winner at #1 Georgetown (Big East – Automatic)
First Round – Game 2: Boston U (Patriot – Automatic) at Bryant (America East)
Second Round: Game 2 Winner at #16 Cornell (Ivy League – Automatic)
First Round – Game 3: JMU (Sun Belt – Automatic) at Charlotte (American – Automatic)
Second Round: Game 3 Winner at #9 North Carolina (ACC)
First Round – Game 4: LIU (NEC – Automatic) at Princeton (Ivy League)
Second Round: Game 4 Winner at #8 Maryland (Big 10)
SMU Region
First Round – Game 5: Grand Canyon (Mountain West – Automatic) at UCLA (Big 10)
Second Round: Game 5 Winner at #2 SMU
First Round – Game 6: Duquesne (A10 – Automatic) at Washington (Big 10)
Second Round: Game 6 Winner at #15 Creighton (Big East)
First Round – Game 7: Utah Valley (Big West – Automatic) at San Diego (WCC)
Second Round: Game 7 Winner at #10 Pittsburgh (ACC)
First Round – Game 8: SIUE (OVC – Automatic) at Xavier (Big East)
Second Round: Game 8 Winner at #7 Indiana (Big 10)
South Carolina Region
First Round – Game 9: Belmont (MVC – Automatic) at Portland (WCC – Automatic)
Second Round: Game 9 Winner at #3 South Carolina (Sun Belt)
First Round – Game 10: NIU (Horizon – Automatic) at Notre Dame (ACC)
Second Round: Game 10 Winner at #14 West Virginia (Sun Belt)
First Round – Game 11: Wofford (SoCon – Automatic) at Oregon State (Pac-12 – Automatic)
Second Round: Game 11 Winner at #11 Wisconsin (Big 10)
First Round – Game 12: Missouri State (American) at Stanford (ACC)
Second Round: Game 12 Winner at #6 Michigan State (Big 10 – Automatic)
Clemson Region
First Round – Game 13: North Florida (ASUN – Automatic) at UC Santa Barbara (Big West)
Second Round: Game 13 Winner at #4 Clemson (ACC)
First Round – Game 14: High Point (Big South – Automatic) at UNC Wilmington (CAA – Automatic)
Second Round: Game 14 Winner at #13 Wake Forest (ACC)
First Round – Game 15: Syracuse (ACC) at Vermont (America East – Automatic)
Second Round: Game 15 Winner at #12 Akron (Big East)
First Round – Game 16: Marshall (Sun Belt) at Louisville (ACC)
Second Round: Game 16 Winner at #5 Kansas City (Summit League – Automatic)
Last 4 At-Large
UC Santa Barbara
Missouri State
Syracuse
Marshall
Last 4 Out
Georgia Southern
Old Dominion
FIU
Penn
