The bubble just got a little tighter for Texas.
After a tough loss to Kentucky, the Longhorns have slipped from Joe Lunardi’s “Last Four In” to the dreaded “First Four Out” in his latest Bracketology update. That’s a significant drop, and it speaks volumes about how razor-thin the margins are this time of year for teams hovering around the tournament cut line.
Texas, who had been clinging to a spot in the projected NCAA Tournament field, now finds itself on the outside looking in. The loss to a surging Kentucky squad didn’t do them any favors.
And make no mistake - this wasn’t just about one game. It’s about momentum, resume, and how teams are trending as we move deeper into conference play.
On the flip side, Kentucky is moving in the opposite direction - and fast. The Wildcats have rattled off four straight wins in SEC play, and that streak has done more than just solidify their footing.
They’re no longer a bubble team - they’re in the field with room to breathe. That’s a major turnaround for a program that, not long ago, was in the same bracket conversation as Texas.
According to Lunardi’s latest projection, Virginia Tech has leapfrogged Texas, nudging the Longhorns further down the bubble hierarchy. That kind of shake-up is common this time of year as resumes evolve by the day, but for Texas, it’s a wake-up call.
The margin for error is gone. Every possession, every game, every win matters from here on out.
The Longhorns still have time to right the ship, but the path just got a little steeper. And with conference play heating up, there’s no room for missteps. If Texas wants to hear its name called on Selection Sunday, it’s going to have to earn it - one win at a time.