Last-Minute BYU Bracketology Forecast On Selection Sunday
Mar 16, 2025, 11:26 AM | Updated: 11:28 am
Selection Sunday is here. That means we've reached the end of the line for Bracketology in 2025. Where will BYU basketball land? (Brice Tucker, Deseret News)
(Brice Tucker, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah — We’ve reached the finish line for Bracketology in the 2025 season. Finally, it’s Selection Sunday.
BYU is comfortably in the NCAA Tournament with a 24-9 record, having won nine of its last ten games.
The question for BYU is what their seed will be.
They have a resume that would seem to be a team worthy of a 5-seed. However, BYU doesn’t play on Sundays, so half of the bracket isn’t available to them. Could that drop them to a 6-seed, as they experienced last year?
The host cities where BYU could land for First Round action include Denver, Colorado; Wichita, Kansas; Lexington, Kentucky; and Providence, Rhode Island.
Then, the two regions that BYU can be slotted in are the East, which will have Thursday/Saturday regional action in Newark, New Jersey, and the West in San Franciso.
Let’s dive into the final Bracketology outlooks before the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket is officially revealed.
ESPN/Joe Lunardi Bracketology: 5-seed in Providence vs. First Four opponent
The five-seed would be BYU’s highest seed since 2011. That’s great. The bad news with this forecast is traveling two time zones to Providence, Rhode Island, and then not knowing your opponent until Tuesday night.
Rocco Miller (Bracketeer): 6-seed in Wichita vs. Drake
In Miller’s Bracketology forecast from Friday, he has BYU facing a 30-win 11-seed team in Drake that’s only 5-1/2 hours away from their home campus. It would be an interesting spot.
CBS Sports: 7-seed in Providence vs. Vanderbilt
If BYU lands a 7-seed, that would be disappointing for the Cougars.
NCAA.com/Andy Katz: 5-seed vs. First Four opponent
🔮 FINAL BRACKET PREDICTION 🔮@TheAndyKatz gives his last bracket on Selection Sunday 🚨 pic.twitter.com/6wk9thOcut
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2025
The 5-seed would be a perfect setup for BYU. But it’s challenging not knowing who you will play until Tuesday night. Katz’ potential First Four opponents for BYU are mid-majors VCU and George Mason.
FOX Sports: 6-seed vs. VCU
Selection Sunday is HERE! @tsnmike has his latest bracket forecast 🙌 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/dvE17Mz2Og
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 16, 2025
Mike DeCourcey’s bracket has some great storylines. Former Utah State head coach Ryan Odom leads VCU. Then a potential Round of 32 matchup could be there against former BYU head coach Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Heat Check CBB: 6-seed in Wichita vs. First Four opponent
The First Four opponents in this projection are Indiana and Boise State. Also of note, if BYU could get past the Round of 64, they could have a rematch against a Big 12 foe Texas Tech in the Round of 32.
Regarding potential rematches in the Round of 32, as long as a team hasn’t played someone twice, the NCAA Committee could line up that potential matchup for the second round. So don’t expect to see BYU in the same quadrant as Iowa State. Those teams have already faced each other twice before the NCAA Tournament.
BYU’s lone meeting against Texas Tech was on January 7 in Provo. Texas Tech won that game.
Fan poll: 6-seed
In an X poll with 1,300 fans voting, they believe BYU will receive a 6-seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
What seed do you believe BYU basketball will receive in the 2025 NCAA Tournament?
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 15, 2025
My Prediction: 6-seed in Lexington vs. First Four opponent
I wouldn’t be surprised to see BYU as a team that ranks as a 5-seed on the final seed list, but because of Sunday play, they drop to a 6-seed.
Where BYU basketball opponents stand in Bracketology
Eight of BYU’s opponents on the 2024-25 schedule land in the composite bracketology compiled by the Bracket Matrix.
Here’s where those teams stand in the Bracket Matrix aggregate.
- Houston: 1-seed
- Texas Tech: 3-seed
- Iowa State: 3-seed
- Arizona: 4-seed
- Ole Miss: 5-seed
- Kansas: 7-seed
- Baylor: 9-seed
- West Virginia: 10-seed
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
