Conference Preview #1 - Southeastern Conference (SEC)

 

1. Southeastern Conference (SEC)

2026–27 Preseason Conference Preview

The SEC enters the 2026–27 season as the nation's top-ranked conference according to the preseason KenPom ratings. With an average adjusted efficiency margin of +21.35, the SEC holds a comfortable advantage over the rest of college basketball. The initial OCMM bracket projection includes 12 SEC teams in the NCAA Tournament, with seven earning seeds of No. 7 or better. After several seasons of establishing itself as arguably the strongest conference in the country, the SEC shows no signs of slowing down.

Florida leads the way as a No. 1 seed and enters the season as one of the favorites to win the national championship. The Gators return an impressive collection of talent, including Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu, giving Todd Golden one of the most experienced and talented rosters in the country. Florida is ranked second nationally in the preseason KenPom ratings, trailing only Duke. While the Gators certainly have the pieces to win another national championship, I'm sticking with the Blue Devils as my preseason No. 1 team.

The conference's strength extends well beyond Florida. Alabama and Texas both earn No. 3 seeds in the initial OCMM projection, while Vanderbilt checks in as a No. 4 seed. Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Arkansas follow as No. 5 seeds, giving the SEC seven teams positioned to make serious runs in March. Texas is an especially interesting program to watch under Sean Miller, while Arkansas and Tennessee should once again be major factors in the conference championship race.

The middle of the conference is equally impressive. Auburn and Kentucky both earn No. 7 seeds, while Oklahoma checks in as a No. 8 seed. Georgia and Missouri round out the SEC's projected tournament field as No. 10 seeds. That gives the conference 12 NCAA Tournament teams before the season even begins, an extraordinary level of depth that should make conference play a nightly challenge. Even teams projected toward the bottom of the standings possess enough talent to pull off significant upsets.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the SEC is whether its impressive depth will translate into another dominant NCAA Tournament performance. The league features several legitimate Final Four contenders, but navigating the conference schedule will be difficult. Florida, Alabama, Texas, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Arkansas all have the talent to make deep runs, and it wouldn't be surprising to see multiple SEC teams playing during the second weekend of the tournament.

OCMM Outlook: The SEC opens the season as the nation's top-ranked conference, with 12 teams projected into the NCAA Tournament and seven earning top-five seeds. Florida leads the way as a legitimate national championship contender, while Alabama, Texas, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Arkansas provide tremendous strength at the top. The conference's depth is unmatched, and the SEC should once again be a major force in March. However, while Florida may be the SEC's best team, I still believe Duke is the team everyone will be chasing when the NCAA Tournament arrives.

Conference Preview #2 - Big 12 Conference (B12)

 

2. Big 12 Conference

2026–27 Preseason Conference Preview

The Big 12 enters the 2026–27 season ranked second nationally in the preseason KenPom conference ratings. With an average adjusted efficiency margin of +19.60, the conference boasts arguably the most impressive collection of national championship contenders in college basketball. The initial OCMM bracket projection has 11 Big 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament, including four teams on the top two seed lines.

Houston leads the way as a No. 1 seed, followed by Arizona, Iowa State, and Kansas as No. 2 seeds. The Cougars have become one of the nation's most consistent programs under Kelvin Sampson, while Arizona enters the season looking to build on last year's Final Four appearance. The Wildcats were also selected to win the conference in the preseason coaches poll, narrowly edging Houston. With both programs operating at an elite level, the race for the Big 12 championship should be outstanding.

Arizona is one of my picks to reach the 2027 Final Four. I really like the Wildcats' combination of talent, experience, and coaching, and I believe they have everything necessary to make another deep tournament run. While Houston may enter the season with the slightly higher national ranking, Arizona is a team I'm particularly confident in when looking ahead to March.

Kansas might be the most intriguing team in the conference, although I believe the Jayhawks are overrated entering the season. Bill Self welcomes highly touted freshman Tyran Stokes, one of the nation's premier incoming players, but I'm not convinced Kansas deserves its lofty preseason expectations. The Jayhawks certainly have the talent to compete near the top of the Big 12, but I need to see more before considering them a legitimate national championship contender. Iowa State should remain a serious threat under T.J. Otzelberger, while Texas Tech checks in as a No. 3 seed and gives the conference five teams projected among the nation's top 12 seeds.

The Big 12's depth extends well beyond its championship contenders. Cincinnati and Baylor earn No. 8 and No. 9 seeds, respectively, while BYU also checks in as a No. 9 seed. TCU rounds out the more comfortable tournament selections as a No. 10 seed. West Virginia and Oklahoma State are projected as No. 11 seeds, giving the conference several teams that will need to build strong résumés to secure their positions in March.

Arizona State and UCF are also worth watching, as both appear among the OCMM Next Four Out. With the NCAA Tournament expanding to 76 teams, the Big 12 has a legitimate opportunity to send a double-digit number of teams to the field. The conference's strength should provide plenty of opportunities for quality victories, although the difficult league schedule could also make it challenging for bubble teams to separate themselves.

What makes the Big 12 particularly dangerous is its strength at the top. Houston, Arizona, Iowa State, Kansas, and Texas Tech all enter the season with the talent to make deep NCAA Tournament runs. While the SEC ranks slightly higher in overall conference efficiency, the Big 12 has an argument for possessing the nation's strongest group of championship contenders. Personally, I'm more confident in Arizona's ability to make a Final Four run than I am in Kansas living up to its preseason ranking.

OCMM Outlook: The Big 12 opens the season as the nation's second-ranked conference, with 11 teams projected into the NCAA Tournament. Houston leads the way as a No. 1 seed, while Arizona, Iowa State, Kansas, and Texas Tech provide tremendous strength at the top. Arizona is one of my early Final Four selections, while Kansas is a team I believe could fall short of expectations. Arizona State and UCF give the conference additional opportunities to increase its bid total. The Big 12 should be one of the most competitive leagues in the country and could send multiple teams deep into March.

Conference Preview #3 - Big Ten Conference (B10)

 

3. Big Ten Conference

2026–27 Preseason Conference Preview

The Big Ten enters the 2026–27 season ranked third nationally in the preseason KenPom conference ratings. With an average adjusted efficiency margin of +18.68, the conference once again boasts tremendous depth and figures to be a major factor in the NCAA Tournament. The initial OCMM bracket projection has 12 Big Ten teams in the field, demonstrating just how competitive the league should be from top to bottom.

Illinois leads the way as a No. 1 seed in the initial OCMM projection, followed by Michigan State as a No. 2 seed and Nebraska as a No. 4 seed. The Fighting Illini enter the season with legitimate national championship aspirations, while Nebraska looks to build on its recent success and establish itself as a consistent presence near the top of the Big Ten standings.

One team I believe is overrated entering the season is Michigan State. There's no questioning Tom Izzo's Hall of Fame credentials, but the Spartans haven't reached the Final Four since 2019. While Michigan State has enjoyed recent tournament success, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2025, I'm not convinced the Spartans deserve the lofty expectations that come with a No. 2 seed. They'll need to prove they're capable of taking that next step before I'm completely sold.

The conference's depth becomes apparent throughout the middle seed lines. Ohio State and Purdue earn No. 6 seeds, while UCLA and Michigan both check in as No. 7 seeds. The combination of established programs and emerging contenders should make the conference race particularly interesting.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I believe Wisconsin is once again being underrated. The Badgers enter the initial OCMM projection as a No. 11 seed, but Greg Gard has developed a reputation for getting more out of his teams than preseason expectations suggest. Wisconsin has consistently found ways to compete near the top of the Big Ten, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Badgers comfortably improve their tournament position as the season progresses.

The Big Ten's projected tournament field also includes USC as a No. 9 seed, along with Minnesota, Iowa, and Indiana as No. 11 seeds. Several of these teams enter the season near the tournament bubble, but the expanded 76-team field creates additional opportunities for the conference to earn bids. The challenge will be separating themselves in a league where quality wins should be available almost every night.

One of the more interesting storylines will be whether the Big Ten can translate its impressive regular-season depth into postseason success. With Illinois leading the way and several other programs capable of making deep runs, the conference should have plenty of opportunities to compete for a national championship.

OCMM Outlook: The Big Ten opens the season as the nation's third-ranked conference, with 12 teams projected into the NCAA Tournament. Illinois leads the way as a No. 1 seed, while Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Ohio State, UCLA, and Michigan provide considerable depth. However, I'm skeptical that Michigan State will live up to its preseason expectations, and I believe Wisconsin will finish considerably stronger than its initial No. 11 seed suggests. The Big Ten should once again be one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball.

Conference Preview #4 - Big East Conference (Beast)

 

4. Big East Conference

2026–27 Preseason Conference Preview

The Big East enters the 2026–27 season ranked fourth nationally in the preseason KenPom conference ratings. With an average adjusted efficiency margin of +17.66, the conference remains one of college basketball's strongest leagues, featuring a combination of established national contenders and programs looking to return to prominence.

Connecticut leads the way in the initial OCMM bracket projection, earning a No. 3 seed. The Huskies have established themselves as one of the nation's premier programs under Dan Hurley and once again appear positioned to compete for a conference championship and make a deep NCAA Tournament run. St. John's follows as a No. 6 seed, while Creighton and Villanova both earn No. 8 seeds. The conference's depth should make for another competitive regular-season race.

Marquette and Providence round out the Big East's six projected NCAA Tournament teams. Marquette checks in as a No. 9 seed, while Providence earns a No. 11 seed. I have a feeling Marquette is going to be better than the preseason projections suggest. The Golden Eagles have established a strong identity under Shaka Smart, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them outperform their initial ranking and work their way into the upper tier of the conference. Marquette is one of the teams I'll be watching closely as the season develops.

The Big East also has opportunities to exceed its initial six-bid projection. DePaul opens the season among the OCMM First Four Out, while Xavier is listed in the Next Four Out. Both programs are close enough to the projected field to make the conference's NCAA Tournament picture even more interesting. With the tournament expanding to 76 teams, the Big East has a realistic opportunity to send seven or even eight teams to March Madness.

OCMM Outlook: The Big East opens the season as the nation's fourth-ranked conference, with six teams projected into the NCAA Tournament. Connecticut leads the way, followed by St. John's, Creighton, Villanova, Marquette, and Providence. DePaul and Xavier are positioned just outside the field, while Marquette is my pick to outperform preseason expectations. The Big East should once again be one of the most competitive conferences in the country.

Conference Preview #5 - Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

 

5. Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

2026–27 Preseason Conference Preview

The Atlantic Coast Conference enters the 2026–27 season ranked fifth nationally in the preseason KenPom conference ratings. With an average adjusted efficiency margin of +15.46, the ACC has plenty of talent at the top, but its overall depth trails the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, and Big East.

I'll admit that seeing the ACC ranked fifth is disappointing. I've always viewed the ACC as one of college basketball's premier conferences, and while the league has certainly experienced some ups and downs in recent years, it's still frustrating to see it sitting behind four other conferences. The talent is there, particularly at the top, but the ACC needs more consistent performances from its middle and lower-tier programs to regain its place among the nation's elite.

Duke leads the way as the nation's No. 1 team in the preseason KenPom rankings and earns a No. 1 seed in the initial OCMM bracket projection. The Blue Devils are the clear conference favorite and enter the season with national championship expectations. Virginia and Louisville provide the strongest competition, earning No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively, while Miami (FL) checks in as a No. 6 seed. All three programs have the talent to challenge Duke and potentially make deep NCAA Tournament runs.

I continue to believe Duke is the best team in the country, and I'm sticking with the Blue Devils as my pick to win the 2027 National Championship. It's a position I've held throughout the preseason, and nothing I've seen has changed my mind. Duke has the talent, coaching, and overall roster construction to make another serious run at a national title. While there will undoubtedly be challenges along the way, I expect the Blue Devils to be playing for a championship in April.

North Carolina and Clemson round out the ACC's projected tournament field, both earning No. 10 seeds. The Tar Heels enter the season looking to establish themselves under new head coach Michael Malone, while Clemson hopes to continue its recent run of NCAA Tournament appearances. Both teams have opportunities to improve their seeding, but neither enters the season with much room for error.

The conference's biggest opportunity may come from its bubble teams. NC State opens the season among the OCMM First Four Out, while SMU appears in the Next Four Out. Both programs are within striking distance of the tournament field and could help the ACC exceed its initial six-bid projection. With the NCAA Tournament expanding to 76 teams, the league should have additional opportunities to strengthen its representation in March.

OCMM Outlook: The ACC opens the season as the nation's fifth-ranked conference, with six teams projected into the NCAA Tournament. Duke leads the way as a No. 1 seed and remains my pick to win the national championship. Virginia, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, and Clemson round out the projected field, while NC State and SMU give the conference two additional teams capable of pushing the ACC toward eight bids. Despite my disappointment in the ACC's overall ranking, I still believe the conference has the nation's best team in Duke.

Conference Preview #6 - Pac-12 Conference (PAC12)

 

6. Pac-12 Conference

2026–27 Preseason Conference Preview

The Pac-12 returns to the college basketball landscape in 2026–27 with a dramatically different look, ranking sixth nationally in the preseason KenPom conference ratings. With an average adjusted efficiency margin of +10.92, the rebuilt conference immediately establishes itself as the strongest league outside the traditional power conferences.

The addition of Gonzaga gives the Pac-12 an established national powerhouse and a legitimate contender for a deep NCAA Tournament run. The Bulldogs enter the season ranked No. 14 nationally in KenPom and earn a No. 4 seed in the initial OCMM bracket projection. Gonzaga will be the clear favorite, but the conference should provide considerably more competition than the Bulldogs regularly faced in the West Coast Conference.

San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, and Colorado State bring recent NCAA Tournament experience to the conference, giving the Pac-12 a solid foundation of established programs. Oregon State and Washington State also provide continuity from the previous version of the league. The challenge will be determining which programs can separate themselves from the pack and build strong enough résumés to earn at-large consideration.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the initial projection is that Gonzaga is the conference's only tournament team. Utah State is among the First Four Out, suggesting the Pac-12 is close to earning a second bid. With the expanded 76-team tournament, the conference has an opportunity to establish itself as a consistent multi-bid league, particularly if its top teams perform well during nonconference play.

OCMM Outlook: The Pac-12 enters its inaugural season in this new configuration ranked sixth nationally, with Gonzaga projected as a No. 4 seed and the conference's automatic qualifier. Utah State is the strongest early candidate for an additional bid, while San Diego State, Boise State, and Colorado State could also work their way into the NCAA Tournament conversation. The league has the potential to exceed its initial one-bid projection and become a significant factor in March.

Conference Preview #7 - Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10)

 

7. Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10)

2026–27 Preseason Conference Preview

The Atlantic 10 enters the 2026–27 season ranked seventh nationally in the preseason KenPom conference ratings. With an average adjusted efficiency margin of +5.45, the A-10 continues to establish itself as one of the strongest conferences outside the traditional power leagues and enters the season with legitimate hopes of earning multiple NCAA Tournament bids.

VCU and Saint Louis lead the way in the initial OCMM bracket projection, giving the conference two projected NCAA Tournament teams. VCU earns a No. 10 seed, while Saint Louis checks in as a No. 12 seed. Both programs have the opportunity to build strong postseason résumés, although the competition throughout the conference should make the regular-season race interesting.

Dayton is another team to keep a close eye on, as the Flyers enter the season just outside the initial OCMM tournament field. With a strong tradition of competing near the top of the Atlantic 10, Dayton could challenge VCU and Saint Louis for conference supremacy and emerge as another legitimate at-large contender.

The biggest question for the Atlantic 10 is whether it can consistently produce multiple at-large contenders. The expanded 76-team NCAA Tournament creates additional opportunities for leagues like the A-10, but nonconference success will be critical. With several competitive programs capable of challenging the favorites, the conference has an opportunity to improve its national standing and potentially exceed its initial two-bid projection.

OCMM Outlook: The Atlantic 10 opens the season as the nation's seventh-ranked conference, with VCU and Saint Louis projected into the NCAA Tournament. Dayton is not far behind and could push the conference's total to three bids if the Flyers build a strong enough résumé throughout the season.