Bracketology 2025: Auburn jumps to the top of the field in the latest field projection

The college game is resembling the NBA more and more. From the reliance on the three-point shot to the push by some to move from halves to quarters to the offseason which has become almost as explosive as the regular season. One thing that will always be unique to the college game (even if some want to change it) is the NCAA Tournament and the selection of the field.

Much like the game has evolved, the importance of bracketology has also evolved. No longer is it something that people only pay attention to in February and March, the impact on a team's tournament chances can be felt and examined in everything they do, even in the offseason. Whether it be from a roster standpoint or how a non-conference schedule can enhance a resume, examining college basketball through the lens of bracketology is becoming a year-round endeavor.

While trying to predict the field from the beginning of the season until Selection Sunday is undoubtedly an effort in futility, such an exercise also gives us a look at how teams are progressing throughout the year. We can see which teams are climbing and falling on the seed list and which teams are jumping on and off the bubble as we get closer to March.

A month of games has now been played, and a lot has begun as we thought it might. Kansas is very good, and some have not, such as Villanova’s difficult first month. As could be expected, now that games have been played, there has been movement on every seed line. Fresh off a mid-flight altercation, Auburn knocked off Houston, Purdue beat Alabama at home, North Carolina has questions in the frontcourt and Mississippi has struggled offensively. These are just a few of the things that have impacted the first in-season bracket after the month of November.