Arizona dropped one spot to a four seed in the final ESPN preseason bracketology update posted on Tuesday. Arizona opens the 2025-26 season on Monday night against defending national champion and third-ranked Florida in the Hall of Fame Series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
ESPN Resident Bracketologist Joe Lunardi projected Arizona as a three seed in September, but now has the Wildcats as a four seed. Lunardi projects Arizona to play 13th-seeded UC-Irvine in the first round of the Midwest Regional in San Diego.
The winner between Arizona and UC-Irvine would play whoever emerges victorious between fifth-seeded Arkansas and 12th seed Northern Iowa.