Men’s Bracketology: 2025 NCAA Tournament
By Joe Lunardi Updated: 1/31/2025 at 10:30 a.m. ET
Here at Bracketology HQ, we track every result every night, ranking and re-ranking what will eventually comprise the NCAA tournament’s field of 68. With major conference play underway, our projections will update twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday.
Bracket Watch
Last summer, it was suggested that this year’s “real” Iron Bowl wouldn’t take place on the gridiron, but on the hardwood. As it turns out, neither Auburn nor Alabama made the College Football Playoff. But with six weeks to go in college basketball’s regular season, the top two teams in Bracketology are — wait for it — Auburn and Alabama. The Tigers have been No. 1 overall since winning the Maui Invitational, and after surviving an injury that sidelined Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, they are rolling toward the most Quadrant 1 wins in the history of the NET. Meanwhile, the Tide have won 12 of 13 — with all but three of the 12 wins in either Q1 or Q2 — and most recently escaped Mississippi State in Starkville to slide ahead of Duke on the seed list. In two weeks, our Yellowhammer State protagonists will collide for the first of what could be four meetings. Can you imagine? In addition to their Feb. 15 (Tuscaloosa) and March 8 (Auburn) dates, we could have Iron Bowl III at the SEC tournament, then Iron Bowl IV in the Final Four. Just don’t ask me which team is better. If we’re lucky, there will be more than enough chances to find out.
On the Bubble
68-Team Bracket
SOUTH (ATLANTA)
Lexington
Seattle
Wichita
Wichita
WEST (SAN FRANCISCO)
Milwaukee
Denver
Providence
Cleveland
MIDWEST (INDIANAPOLIS)
Lexington
Seattle
Milwaukee
Cleveland
EAST (NEWARK)
Raleigh
Providence
Denver
Raleigh
Conference Breakdown
Photo illo by ESPN Illustration, additional photos courtesy of Getty Images, Associated Press, Imagn, USA TODAY Sports, Icon Sportswire, EPA/Shutterstock
