Bracketology XTRA: How one No. 1 swap makes the entire bracket better

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) unpack the February 25, 2026 Bracketology column on USCHO.com with this weekly episode of Bracketology XTRA.

Here is this week's updated bracket:


ALBANY REGION

Michigan State (1)
Minnesota Dulth
Cornell
Bentley (AHA rep)

WORCESTER REGION

Western Michigan (4)
Providence
Dartmouth
Connecticut

LOVELAND REGION


Michigan (2)
Quinnipiac
Denver
St. Thomas

SIOUX FALLS REGION

North Dakota (3)
Penn State
Boston College
Wisconsin

For details on how this bracket was put together, visit this week's column at https://www.uscho.com/2026/02/25/bracketology-building-the-bracket-with-bands-not-seeds/

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts