D3 Bracketology Update: 2/16/26
A second D3 Bracketology update is here!
Continuing with our theme of Monday D3 Bracketology and Tuesday D1 Bracketology, we present to you the latest D3 bracket!
This bracket likely looks different than last week, as I really tried to stick to as close of the 1-64 seed line as possible, placing teams in the first S-curve spot that they fit geographically (within 500 miles).
That being said, I ran in to several challenges with Emory. The shifts in SAA’s AQ spot, removing Rhodes, and Roanoke sliding out of the 21 At-Large berths, created a tough bracketing spot for #1 seed Emory at the “2 seed”. As a result, with a logjam of teams in the Upper Midwest (namely 5 WIAC schools), I decided to send Platteville packing. The #33 team in the field will be the “2 seed” in the Emory pod.
With Redlands sliding down to #26 in the field, it creates a more natural “west coast” pod, with #16 CMS and flying #38 Whitworth down (they have to fly anyways). To decide on the two teams lucky enough to fly to Texas and California, I continued down the seed line until there were two teams left. Fortunately for those hosts, these are #63 Lehman and #64 Minnesota Morris, who are both close enough to major airports to have an easy flight!
My Emory vs the WIAC battle continued in the second weekend pairings, as again we have several Upper Midwest top 16 teams. I sent Stevens-Point down to Atlanta this time, as the #15 seed. Gustavus Adolphus also continues to fill spots on an MSP flight, as they will travel out to Trinity CT in the second weekend. The third second weekend flight would be the classic “West Coast” battle of CMS and St Thomas.
One other thought as it relates to hosting. If this bracket was enacted, I could see WashU (or even Grinnell) getting to host Pod O instead of Stevens Point. With two St Louis teams, there could be a geographic advantage to hosting out of Wisconsin.
What do you think? How did we do? Comment below and let us know!