Big 12 Basketball Bracketology: Lunardi Projects 7 Teams in NCAA Tournament

ESPN's top analyst forecasts a strong showing for the Big 12 in March Madness

Feb. 13, 2026 at 9:15am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology, the Big 12 Conference is projected to have seven teams make the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the fourth-most of any conference. The conference is led by top overall seed Arizona, while Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, and Texas Tech are also projected to earn high seeds. BYU and UCF round out the Big 12 teams in Lunardi's bracket.

Why it matters

The Big 12 has proven to be one of the toughest basketball conferences this season, with several teams jockeying for NCAA Tournament positioning. Lunardi's projections indicate the conference's depth and strength, which could make for an exciting conference tournament and March Madness run.

The details

Lunardi has Arizona as the overall No. 1 seed in the West region, while Houston is a 2-seed in the South and Iowa State is a 2-seed in the Midwest. Kansas and Texas Tech are both 3- and 4-seeds, respectively, in the East region. BYU and UCF round out the Big 12 teams, with the Cougars as a 6-seed in the South and the Knights as a 9-seed in the Midwest.

  • Lunardi's latest bracketology was published on February 13, 2026.

The players

Joe Lunardi

ESPN's top bracketology analyst who projects the NCAA Tournament field.

Darryn Peterson

A potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick who plays for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Themus Fulks

The leading scorer for the UCF Knights, who are projected to make the NCAA Tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If that prediction holds, the Big 12 would have the fourth-most teams, trailing the ACC, which has 8, and the Big Ten and SEC, which each have 10.”

— Jack Freeman, Author

“Headed for their toughest stretch yet against three straight ranked opponents, how they handle the next week will determine if they stay at No. 1.”

— Jack Freeman, Author

What’s next

The Big 12 teams will continue conference play over the next few weeks, with key matchups that could impact their NCAA Tournament seeding. Lunardi will release updated bracketology projections in the coming weeks leading up to Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

The Big 12 is poised to have a strong showing in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with seven teams currently projected to make the field. This reflects the conference's depth and competitiveness this season, which should make for an exciting conference tournament and March Madness.