UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and Southern California have all demonstrated they are worthy contenders for No. 1 seeds in this year’s NCAA Tournament following an impressive regular season performance. These teams are widely believed to be in strong contention to land on the 1-line by Sunday night when the March Madness bracket is unveiled by the selection committee. While their positions in the bracket are still in question, the debate continues over which will be selected as the overall No. 1 seed. Unlike earlier tournaments, there’s no stand-out team that is unanimously seen as the frontrunner.
This year marks only the second time in 19 years that the NCAA Tournament features no teams entering March Madness with just one or zero losses — the first occurrence was in 2022. The leading teams this season have taken on challenging opponents early on, playing tough non-conference agendas. In particular, teams potentially earning top seed status, as well as UConn and Notre Dame, have faced each other throughout conference battles and non-conference encounters.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma highlighted this trend, saying, “We finally have more good teams wanting to play really good teams in their non-conference schedule early in the year.” He emphasized the benefit of playing strong teams early on, allowing for more accurate comparisons and judgments of team rankings. UConn themselves were beaten by Southern California and Notre Dame but managed to upset South Carolina on their home turf last month. “I think more and more schools are starting to do that,” Auriemma added, noting it improves the quality of the game for fans and TV audiences as well.
Here’s a closer look at the leading teams vying for the esteemed No. 1 overall seed:
**South Carolina**
Under coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks went 2-3 when squaring off against other top contenders, including two important wins over Texas. Despite a November loss to UCLA and a recent setback against UConn, South Carolina has been consistently strong, dominating the SEC by clinching both the regular season and conference tournament titles. Staley argues their daunting schedule should secure them a No. 1 seed.
**UCLA**
The Bruins’ record features only two blemishes, both dealt by their fierce rivals, USC. Navigating a tough Big Ten season, UCLA emerged undefeated aside from the defeats by the Trojans. A highlight came back in November when they convincingly topped South Carolina, a win that propelled them to the top of the rankings for 12 weeks.
**Texas**
The Longhorns’ record reflects key losses only to South Carolina twice and Notre Dame, balanced with a significant victory over the Gamecocks. Holding 14 Quad 1 wins in the Net ratings, equaled only by UCLA, Texas sits just behind South Carolina’s impressive 16.
**Southern California**
The Trojans’ selection prospects are buoyed by their two victories over UCLA and a significant road win at UConn. A loss against Iowa might hurt their chances for grabbing the overall No. 1 seed, but their strong resume remains competitive.
