The American Athletic Conference standings may be competitive, but the national picture tells a very different story. As of Feb. 18, 2026, every major bracketology outlet — ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, USA TODAY, and Team Rankings — projects zero AAC teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Even with South Florida sitting alone in first place and Tulsa and Wichita State tied for second, the league has not produced a résumé strong enough to earn an at‑large bid. Temple and Charlotte, both tied for third, also remain well outside bubble consideration.
The AAC is shaping up as a true one‑bid league, meaning only the conference tournament champion will reach March Madness.
South Florida Leads the League, But Not the Bracketology
South Florida’s rise to the top of the standings has been one of the conference’s best stories. The Bulls have defended home court, won close games, and shown consistency that eluded them in past seasons.
But nationally, their metrics tell a different story. USF lacks the quadrant‑one wins needed to impress the selection committee, and early non‑conference losses continue to drag down their NET ranking. As a result, the Bulls do not appear in any projected bracket or bubble list.
Tulsa and Wichita State in Second, Still Outside the Field
Tulsa and Wichita State have both surged into second place, but neither has built a tournament‑worthy profile.
Tulsa’s strong conference play has been overshadowed by a weak non‑conference résumé, while Wichita State’s inconsistency has kept them from climbing into at‑large territory. Both teams would need deep AAC Tournament runs — and likely the automatic bid — to reach the field of 68.
Temple and Charlotte in Third, But Far From the Bubble
Temple and Charlotte have shown flashes of potential, but neither has cracked the national conversation. Their NET rankings remain too low, and neither has accumulated the quality wins needed to enter bubble discussions.
AAC Tournament Will Decide Everything
With no projected bids and no bubble teams, the AAC’s path to March Madness is simple: Win the conference tournament or stay home.
South Florida, Tulsa, Wichita State, Temple, and Charlotte all have the talent to make a run, but none have the résumé to survive Selection Sunday without the league’s automatic bid.
The American has produced memorable March moments in the past — but in 2026, the road to the NCAA Tournament runs through one place: Fort Worth and the AAC Tournament.
