Iowa basketball staring down blueblood in new ESPN NCAA Bracketology

Sitting at 9-2 on the young season, the Iowa Hawkeyes look as though they may be making a return to the NCAA Tournament, a goal of theirs that is just the tip of the iceberg under head coach Ben McCollum.

While the season is very young, and there is still more than enough work to do for the Hawkeyes to avoid the bubble conversation or missing March Madness outright, Iowa is staying in the latest renditions of ESPN’s newest bracketology.

Advertisement

This week’s updated bracket gives Iowa a bracket loaded with two of the sport’s most dominant bluebloods, one of which could be awaiting Iowa in the second round with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

Iowa guard Brendan Hausen (15) talks to Iowa head coach Ben McCollum during a basketball game against the Western Michigan Broncos on Dec. 14, 2025, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

Bracket

Nov 15, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts to the action on the floor during the second half against the BYU Cougars at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Colgate

No. 8 Utah vs. No. 9 Oklahoma

No. 5 Nebraska vs. No. 12 Akron

No. 4 Houston vs. No. 13 East Tennessee State

No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 14 Lipscomb

No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Saint Louis

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Troy

Top Seeds

Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer calls out to players during the first half in the game against Michigan State on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

No. 1 seeds: Duke, Iowa State, Michigan, Arizona

No. 2 seeds: UConn, Purdue, Gonzaga, BYU

No. 3 seeds: Michigan State, Alabama, Louisville, Vanderbilt

No. 4 seeds: Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Houston

Bubble Watch

Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd (2) steals the ball from BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) during the first half at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Last Four Byes: Indiana, UCLA, LSU, Oklahoma State

Last Four In: NC State, UCF, Baylor, Arizona State

First Four Out: Villanova, Oklahoma, Boise State, Virginia Tech