The Iowa Hawkeyes are riding a two-game winning streak after a bit of a skid, yet the NCAA Tournament projections do not seem to be rewarding Ben McCollum’s squad for getting their overall record to 14-5 with a 4-4 mark in Big Ten play.
After wins over Indiana and Rutgers, the Hawkeyes have somehow slipped a seed line in the latest ESPN March Madness bracketology projections with the weekend off from action. Iowa gets back to it on January 28 when they welcome the USC Trojans to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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While Iowa gets some rest and readies for the Big Ten stretch run, check out the latest bracketology update.
Jan 17, 2026; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) greets Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Ben McCollum during the second half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
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Opponent: No. 9 Texas A&M
Bracket
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) reacts during the second half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
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No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Navy
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No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Texas A&M
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No. 5 Arkansas vs. No. 12 FAU
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No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 13 Hawaii
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No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 UCLA / No. 11 New Mexico
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No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Portland State
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No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 NC State
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No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Wright State
Top Seeds
Jan 20, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) is defended by UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) in the second half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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No. 1 seeds: Michigan, Arizona, Duke, UConn
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No. 2 seeds: Gonzaga, Houston, Nebraska, Purdue
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No. 3 seeds: Iowa State, BYU, Illinois, Michigan State
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No. 4 seeds: Vanderbilt, Virginia, Florida, Texas Tech
Bubble Watch
Dec 13, 2025; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Owen Freeman (32) warms up before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
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Last Four Byes: NC State, Miami, Seton Hall, Ohio State
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Last Four In: UCLA, New Mexico, USC, Virginia Tech
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First Four Out: Stanford, Santa Clara, Texas, Indiana
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Next Four Out: Missouri, Creighton, Baylor, TCU
Conference Breakdown
March Madness logo at midcourt during the first half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA tournament between the Baylor Bears and the Syracuse Orange at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2019.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ESPN March Madness bracketology curiously drops Iowa basketball’s seed
