Selection Sunday is here, and with mere hours remaining until the official NCAA Tournament bracket is released for the 2026 edition of the Big Dance, things still look pretty good for Florida basketball despite exiting the SEC Tournament in the semifinal round.
Saturday afternoon’s loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville was an ugly affair for Todd Golden’s team, who struggled to take care of the ball while losing their touch from the perimeter en route to a 91-74 defeat. It was easily Florida’s worst loss this season and the second-straight game that the Gators looked a bit rusty in tournament play.
Nonetheless, the Orange and Blue appear to be in position for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to USA TODAY Sports’ final bracketology. In it, Golden’s gang still holds the top spot in the South Region.
Top seeds in USA TODAY Sports’ 2026 bracketology
“The No. 1 seeds appear straightforward with Duke going to the East Region as the top overall seed and Michigan, Florida and Arizona staying in their respective geographical areas in the Midwest, South and West part of the bracket,” the authors offer.
SEC schools in USA TODAY Sports’ 2026 bracketology
The Southeastern Conference still has its 10-school count and continues the Big Ten by one team for the most representation in the bracketology. The ACC and Big 12 both have eight, while the Big East and WCC have three each, and the Atlantic 10 and MAC both have a pair to round out leagues with at least two teams included.
Florida headlines the SEC at No. 1 in the South, followed by the 4th-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores (Midwest) and Arkansas Razorbacks (West). The rest of the conference lineup consists of the Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 5, East), Tennessee Volunteers (No. 6, East), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 7, West), Georgia Bulldogs (No. 9, East), Texas A&M Aggies (No. 11, Midwest), Missouri Tigers (No. 11, West) and Texas Longhorns (No. 11, South).
Texas and Missouri are among the last four in, while the Auburn Tigers are the final team in the first four out category.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: USA TODAY Sports’ final bracketology ahead of Selection Sunday
Reporting by Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
