A new men's college basketball season has finally arrived. With it comes inevitable questions, both obvious and arcane, about players, teams and, most importantly, what will happen 5½ months from now. Below are just some of what your intrepid ESPN Bracketologist will be watching in the 19 weeks between now and Selection Sunday.

The first in-season projections of the 2026 March Madness field of 68 will release Nov. 11.

1. Who will secure the four No. 1 seeds on March 15?

Our season-opening projection lists Houston , Purdue , Florida and Duke on the top line of the bracket. History suggests we'll be only half right, so I'm nominating Purdue and Florida as most likely to deceive. The reasons are that the Big Ten (in Purdue's case) and the SEC (in Florida's) have more contenders to

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