Bracketology XTRA: When does shifting brackets for attendance make sense?

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) unpack the January 22, 2026 Bracketology column on USCHO.com with this weekly episode Bracketology XTRA.

A regional 4th seed move should help attendance:

ALBANY REGION

1) Michigan (1 overall)
4) Bentley

2) Wisconsin
3) Quinnipiac

WORCESTER REGION

1) Minnesota Duluth (4)
4) Boston College

2) Western Michigan
3) Providence

SIOUX FALLS REGION

1) North Dakota (3)
4) Augustana

2) Penn State
3) Cornell

LOVELAND REGION

1) Michigan State (2)
4) St. Thomas

2) Dartmouth
3) Denver


For details on how this bracket was put together, visit this week's column at https://www.uscho.com/2026/01/21/bracketology-shifting-teams-necessary-to-protect-attendance

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

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