Tennessee Basketball Projected as 5-Seed in Midwest Region

Vols set to face Northern Iowa in first round of NCAA Tournament, per latest bracketology

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:34pm

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According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, the Tennessee Volunteers are projected as a 5-seed in the Midwest Region of the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Vols would face 12-seed Northern Iowa in the first round, with a potential second-round matchup against either 4-seed Texas Tech or 13-seed Utah Valley.

Why it matters

Tennessee's projected seeding and tournament matchups will be closely watched as the Vols look to make a deep run in the Big Dance. The SEC is expected to be well-represented in the tournament, with 10 teams projected to make the field.

The details

In Lunardi's latest bracketology report, Tennessee is slotted as the final 5-seed in the Midwest Region, behind Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and St. John's. The Vols would face Northern Iowa in the first round, with a potential second-round game against either Texas Tech or Utah Valley. If Tennessee advances, they would hypothetically head to Chicago for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds.

  • Tennessee will open SEC Tournament play on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Tennessee Volunteers

The men's basketball team of the University of Tennessee, a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Joe Lunardi

ESPN's bracketology expert, who projects the field for the NCAA Tournament each year.

Northern Iowa

A Division I men's basketball program that competes in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Texas Tech

A Division I men's basketball program that competes in the Big 12 Conference.

Utah Valley

A Division I men's basketball program that competes in the Western Athletic Conference.

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What’s next

The Vols will open SEC Tournament play on Thursday, March 13, 2026, with a potential matchup against the winner of Auburn and Mississippi State. Tennessee's NCAA Tournament seeding and first-round opponent will be officially announced on Selection Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The takeaway

Tennessee's projected 5-seed in the Midwest Region sets up an intriguing potential path to the Sweet 16 and beyond. The Vols will look to solidify their tournament positioning with a strong showing in the SEC Tournament, where they could face off against fellow bubble team Auburn in the quarterfinals.