ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has released his first Bracketology update for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and Tennessee is projected as a No. 3 seed in the West Region. The Vols are slated to face No. 14 seed McNeese in the first round, with potential matchups against No. 6 Gonzaga and No. 11 VCU in the region. The West Region’s games will be played in San Jose, California, while the first weekend of the tournament will take place in Greenville, South Carolina, along with other sites including Buffalo, Oklahoma City, and Tampa. The Final Four is set for Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Tennessee’s roster for the 2025-26 season is still being finalized, with two spots remaining. The Vols have added seven new players, including three transfers: guard Amaree Abram from Louisiana Tech, point guard Ja’Kobi Gillepsie from Maryland, and power forward Jaylen Carey from Vanderbilt. Additionally, Tennessee has secured a strong 2025 recruiting class, highlighted by five-star small forward Nate Ament, the No. 2 overall player in the class, and four-star prospects Amari Evans (guard), Dewayne Brown (center), and Troy Henderson (point guard).
The Vols lost six seniors from last season’s roster, including key players like Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, and Jordan Gainey. Despite these departures, Tennessee is poised to remain competitive under head coach Rick Barnes, who has led the team to seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Over the past two years, the Vols have made back-to-back Elite Eight runs, losing to No. 1 seeds Houston and Purdue. Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament history under Barnes includes multiple top-seed finishes, including three No. 2 seeds, two No. 3 seeds, and a No. 4 seed.
Looking ahead, Tennessee’s 2025-26 season holds promise with the addition of high-profile recruits and transfers. As the Vols aim for another deep NCAA Tournament run, their seed placement in Lunardi’s early Bracketology suggests they will remain a formidable contender on the national stage.
