With just under five weeks remaining in the regular season, college basketball experts weighed in this week to predict where Big 10 teams will land in the March Madness brackets.
The three main college basketball prognosticators, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Fox’s Mike DeCourcy, and Jerry Palm, all anticipate more than half of the conference’s members to receive bids. Palm and DeCourcy anticipate ten tournament teams, while Lunardi projects 11.
Here is how the bracketology specialists break down their projections.
Big 10 Looking For Major Splash In March
Michigan State’s Coen Carr, left, and Carson Cooper, center, guard Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The following is a report on the possible beginnings of tournament glory for Big 10 schools:
Michigan Wolverines: All three bracketologists foresee Michigan, currently 20-1, as the lone #1 seed granted to a Big 10 squad. In fact, they are in unison that the Wolverines will play in the Midwest region.
Illinois Fighting Illini: The consensus is that the 19-3 Illini will garner a 2-seed. Lunardi and Palm both feel they will land in the East region, but DeCourcy feels they will be shipped out to the West region.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: After beginning the season with 20 straight wins, Nebraska has lost two straight and fallen off the top-seed line this week. Palm and DeCourcy deem the Cornhuskers still worthy of a 2-seed in the South region, but Lunardi believes they will be the West region’s 3-seed.
Purdue Boilermakers: Purdue was the preseason #1 team, but a recent three-game slide has brought them down to earth. All three experts feel the Boilers will land on the 3-seed line. DeCourcy believes they are destined for the East region, while the other two predict them to compete in the Midwest.
Michigan State Spartans: Tom Izzo’s crew is in familiar territory by competing once again for a Big 10 crown. The three authorities agree that the Spartans are currently a 3-seed.
Iowa Hawkeyes: In head coach Ben McCollum’s first season leading the Hawkeyes, he has his troops comfortably in the tournament. The bracketologists are in unison, agreeing that Iowa is an 8-seed.
Wisconsin Badgers: The up-and-down Badgers have proven they can beat any team, but they have also shown the ability to lose to lesser opponents. Their rollercoaster ride of a season tracks to their tournament predictions; Palm and Lunardi feel they are a 9-seed, but DeCourcy deems them worthy of an 8-seed.
USC Trojans: The outlook for the Trojans is where all three of the oracles differ the most in their opinions. Palm and DeCourcy have USC comfortably in the field of 68 as a 9-seed. On the other hand, Lunardi believes they are barely in and projects them as destined for an 11-seed play-in game.
UCLA Bruins: As of now, the Bruins are in, according to the resident forecasters. To stay that way, they evidently still have work to do. Palm thinks UCLA will need to participate in an 11-seed play-in game, Lunardi has them as a 10-seed, and DeCourcy slots the Bruins on the 11-seed line.
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) drives against Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Pryce Sandfort (21) during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
The final two Big 10 teams mentioned in this week’s reports are the Indiana Hoosiers and the Ohio State Buckeyes. If the season were to end today, the three bracket specialists are not in agreement on whether or not each team even makes the NCAA tournament.
According to DeCourcy, Indiana, who is enjoying a three-game winning streak, is currently one of the “First Four Out.” Lunardi believes they are destined for a 10-seed, and Palm thinks the Hoosiers will play as an 11-seed without having to be a play-in team.
Of the eleven Big 10 teams mentioned, the Ohio State Buckeyes’ situation is the most tenuous. Palm feels they have not earned a bid yet, and the other two have the Buckeyes in Dayton for one of the play-in games.
End Of My Big 10 Rant: Is This The Year For A Championship?
Michigan State’s head coach, Tom Izzo, reacts after Jordan Scott scores during the second half against Michigan on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It has been a minute since a Big 10 team last cut down the nets after the NCAA championship game. Izzo’s Michigan State squad last did the trick 26 years ago following the 1999-2000 season.
Is this the year one of the Big 10 members realizes a championship dream? A lot of basketball games have yet to be played before finding the answer to that question. With 11 teams entertaining legitimate hopes of entering the tournament, however, the odds are certainly better of that happening this year.
