NC State Climbing the Bracket: Wolfpack Trending Toward a Strong March
With Selection Sunday just a few weeks away, bracket projections are beginning to carry real weight-and NC State fans have plenty of reason to feel optimistic. Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology update has the Wolfpack moving up to a projected #7 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, a notable bump that reflects their recent surge in ACC play.
Their projected first-round opponent? #10 seed UCLA, with the matchup set for Oklahoma City. That’s a compelling draw on paper, but more importantly, it’s a clear sign of how far this NC State team has come since the start of the season.
From Fringe to Firmly In
Let’s rewind for a moment. When the season tipped off, NC State wasn’t exactly a lock for the tournament.
In fact, they were hovering around the bubble in early projections. But a strong run through the heart of ACC play has changed the narrative.
The Wolfpack haven’t just picked up wins-they’ve built a résumé that’s now earning respect across the bracketology landscape.
Lunardi’s move to slot them as a 7-seed is more than symbolic. It’s a reflection of solid metrics, key wins, and a team that’s peaking at the right time. And if they keep this up, there’s room to climb even higher.
ACC on the Rebound
Zooming out, the ACC as a whole is making a statement this season. Lunardi projects eight ACC teams to make the NCAA Tournament-a dramatic turnaround from last year, when only three squads from the conference punched their ticket to the Big Dance.
That kind of rebound speaks volumes about the league’s depth this season. And NC State is right in the thick of it, helping to lead the charge.
Bracket Matrix Backs It Up
If you want a broader view of the bracketology consensus, The Bracket Matrix has you covered. The site aggregates projections from over 100 bracketologists, and right now, all 112 of them have NC State safely in the field. Not a single outlier.
Their average seed? 7.5, with projections ranging from a high of #7 to a low of #10. That kind of consistency across the board tells us one thing: barring a collapse, the Wolfpack are dancing in March.
What’s Next?
With a few weeks left in the regular season and the ACC Tournament looming, the opportunity is there for NC State to improve their seeding even further. A strong finish could push them into the 6-line-or higher-depending on how things shake out around the country.
But for now, the message is clear: NC State has turned the corner. They’ve gone from a team on the edge to a squad with a real shot to make noise in March. And if they keep trending upward, don’t be surprised if they become one of the tournament’s most dangerous mid-seeds.