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