As of Selection Sunday morning, March 15, 2026, NC State is projected to start the tournament on the road, as they did not secure a top-16 seed required to host the opening rounds. The following table includes the predicted seeds, opponents, and the host site/city where NC State is expected to play its first-round game.
General 2026 Bracketology Overview
The top of the bracket is settled, with the following teams confirmed as the Top 16 seeds (host sites) as of March 14, 2026:
- No. 1 Overall Seed Contenders: UConn (unbeaten) and UCLA.
- Other No. 1 Seeds: Texas and South Carolina.
- Host Teams (Top 4 Seeds): Duke, Iowa, LSU, Louisville, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, TCU, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia.
NC State Predicted Seeding & Host Sites
| Source | Projected Seed | First-Round Opponent | Host Site / City |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA Today | 7-seed | South Dakota State | Nashville, TN (Vanderbilt) |
| Her Hoop Stats | 6-seed | Arizona St. / Richmond | Ann Arbor, MI (Michigan) |
| NCAA (Autumn Johnson) | 6-seed | Arizona St. / Richmond | Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State) |
| ESPN (Charlie Creme) | 8-seed | Iowa State | Los Angeles, California (UCLA) |
| CBS Sports | 7-seed | Iowa State | Baton Rouge, Louisiana (LSU) |
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Charlie Creme hates NC State
- Official Reveal: The definitive bracket, including exact times and locations, will be announced tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
- PackWBB.com thinks a 7 seed is the most likely landing spot for the Pack. Our prediction still has the Pack going to Nashville for the opening rounds.
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