ESPN’s latest bracketology for the 2027 NCAA Tournament has reshuffled the top seeds, with Duke now positioned as the overall No. 1 team, displacing the Florida Gators who had held the spot in the previous projection.
Despite losing the overall No. 1 ranking, Florida remains the premier seed in the South Region and will open the tournament against a 16‑seed — either American or Howard — in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Coach Todd Golden and the Gators are slated to meet the Miami Hurricanes in the Orion180 Tip‑Off Classic on November 2, 2026, a non‑conference showcase that underscores the team’s early‑season schedule.
Conference Depth
The Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten dominate the field with twelve representatives each, underscoring their depth and the competitive balance within those leagues.
In the West, Arizona has taken the top seed from Michigan, while Illinois continues to anchor the Midwest as the No. 1 seed. Both conferences boast the deepest pools of qualifiers, with the SEC and Big Ten each placing twelve schools in the field.
Seed movements also saw Alabama and Arkansas slip to No. 4 positions in the Midwest and East, respectively, while Tennessee ascended to a No. 4 seed in the South. Kentucky holds the No. 5 slot in the East, and Vanderbilt finds itself in the West’s mid‑tier, whereas Georgia sits at No. 8 in the West and Missouri at No. 9 in the Midwest. Auburn follows at No. 9 in the South, and Texas Longhorns occupy the No. 2 spot in the West.
The bracket also leaves Texas A&M among the last four teams granted byes and lists Mississippi State among the next four contenders on the bubble.