Teams competing for No. 1 NCAA seeds have made their arguments, leaving the decision to the selection committee.

As March Madness draws near, the competition for the top No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament is heating up, with UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and Southern California all making compelling cases for the coveted spot. Given their impressive performances throughout the season, it would be surprising if these teams don’t land at the top of the bracket when it’s revealed on Sunday night.

However, the debate still remains over where exactly these teams will be placed and which one will earn the overall No. 1 seed. For the first time in years, there is no consensus on a dominant team leading the pack.

This year’s NCAA Tournament marks only the second time in the past 19 years that no team will enter with fewer than two losses, with the previous instance occurring in 2022.

One of the key reasons for the shake-up is the increased willingness among top teams to face challenging non-conference opponents. UConn and Notre Dame, along with the potential No. 1 seeds, all squared off in tough matchups against each other, either within their respective conferences or in non-conference games.

“We finally have more good teams wanting to play really good teams in their non-conference schedule early in the year,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma commented. “Because what happens then is you not only get a … Well, I think this team should be ranked No. 1, I think that team should be ranked No. 2. Based on what? I don’t know. They just look like they’re a No. 2 or they’re a No. 3. So now you can actually put them head to head and say this is what it looks like.”

While Auriemma’s team faced losses to both Southern California and Notre Dame, they managed an impressive road victory over South Carolina last month.

“I think more and more schools are starting to do that, which obviously makes the game better, makes the TV people happy because they’re putting on a good product on television,” Auriemma continued. “The kids like it.”

Let’s take a closer look at the resumes of the leading teams vying for the top spots:

South Carolina: Led by coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have posted a 2-3 record against the other top teams, including two victories over Texas. Their only other losses came to UCLA and UConn. Having dominated the SEC regular season and conference tournaments, Staley argues their schedule strength should make them deserving of the No. 1 spot.

UCLA: The Bruins have only two losses this season, both to USC, and emerged unscathed from a grueling Big Ten slate. They boast a solid victory over South Carolina in November, which helped them hold the No. 1 ranking for 12 weeks.

Texas: With just three losses—two to South Carolina and one to Notre Dame—Texas still managed to get a win over the Gamecocks. They are tied with UCLA for the second-most Quad 1 victories (14), trailing only South Carolina’s 16.

Southern California: The Trojans have delivered major victories with two wins over UCLA and a notable win at UConn, which strengthens their case for the No. 1 seed. However, their loss to Iowa could be a factor preventing them from claiming the overall No. 1 spot.

As the final bracket approaches, it’s clear the race for the top is neck and neck, and no team is safe from scrutiny as we inch closer to Selection Sunday.