Alabama’s 93-91 overtime triumph over Auburn did not derail the Tigers from their status as the overall No. 1 seed in the latest NCAA Tournament’s Bracketology projection. Instead, it bolstered the Crimson Tide’s chances for claiming a fourth No. 1 seed.

Auburn remains firmly locked in as the top seed, alongside Duke, whereas Houston’s position is presumed secure despite potential underperformance. The competition for the fourth No. 1 seed narrows to Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama from the SEC, having essential tournament victories to assert their standings. A victory in the conference tournament could solidify their top-position claims, while Michigan State lurks as a dark horse if needed.

In contrast, Ohio State finds itself precariously off the bracket after a loss to Indiana, necessitating multiple wins in the incoming Big Ten Tournament to regain its path toward an at-large bid. The history of selection reflects the rarity of teams with losing records making it to March Madness, with Ohio State presently holding a 17-14 record and a series of costly Quadrant 4 games.

The ever-looming battle for positioning leads into further discussions on the critical games upcoming in the tournament landscape.