GRAND FORKS — We’ll know the NCAA tournament bracket at 2 p.m. Sunday, when ESPNU broadcasts the selection show.
But who wants to wait that long?
Here’s the Herald’s attempt at projecting the 2026 NCAA men’s hockey tournament bracket.
Albany
1 Michigan vs. 16 Bentley
7 Providence vs. 11 Cornell
Sioux Falls
2 North Dakota vs. 15 Merrimack
8 Minnesota Duluth vs. 10 Quinnipiac
Worcester
3 Michigan State vs. 14 UConn
6 Dartmouth vs. 9 Penn State
Loveland
4 Western Michigan vs. 13 Minnesota State
5 Denver vs. 12 Wisconsin
The NCAA Committee will have to decide between seeding integrity and travel costs when assessing UND’s first-round opponent.
If the Committee chooses to value seeding, UND will play Merrimack in the first round. If the Committee wants to cut down on flights and localize matchups, UND will play Minnesota State in the first round.
Historically, the Committee has placed a much greater emphasis on seeding.
If Minnesota State finished No. 14 overall, I think the Committee would make the switch.
But because the Mavericks are No. 13 — and Merrimack finished at No. 19 in the NPI and will be the tournament’s No. 15 overall seed — that’s a significant bridge to cross and I don’t think the NCAA alters seeds that far.
Here’s what others have projected:
College Hockey News
Star Tribune
College Puck NXT
By
Brad Elliott Schlossman
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at [email protected].
