Oklahoma passed SMU as the last team in the CBS Sports Bracketology field of 68 on Thursday night after beating Texas A&M 83-63 in the second round of the SEC Tournament. The victory improved the Sooners to 19-14 and set the stage for a quarterfinal showdown with Arkansas on Friday night that could determine OU’s final fate.
OU’s rise to serious NCAA Tournament consideration seemed impossible in early February. The Sooners have won eight of their past 10 games since a nine-game losing streak early in SEC play.
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After that prolonged stretch of ineptitude, Oklahoma ranked 96th nationally in Wins Above Bubble (WAB) with -3.73 score. But after taking down the Aggies in convincing fashion at Bridgestone Arena, the Sooners are expected to wake up with a WAB ranking in the 40s on Friday and with a score of around 0, which is indicative of how OU is now the epitome of a bubble team after rattling off a series of victories over projected tournament teams.
SEC peer Auburn was one of Thursday’s big losers. The Tigers had a chance to play themselves firmly onto the right side of the bubble with a win over Tennessee, but they couldn’t hold on to a 10-point lead in the second half. Thus, Auburn will likely need some help and some grace from the selection committee to make the field.
Selection Sunday is just three days away, and the race for the spots in the 2026 NCAA Tournament field is nearing its conclusion. Teams had four months to build their resumes and position themselves for optimum seeding, but these next few days offer the chance at a final impression.
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