2025 NCAA tournament bubble watch: Joe Lunardi updates dire stakes for OU, Texas in second half, SEC tournament

Saturday’s basketball game between Oklahoma and Texas has more than just bragging rights on the line with both schools fighting to make the NCAA Tournament. According to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the winner will have a clear path at doing so.

OU and Texas were tied at halftime, when Lunardi joined the SEC Network to talk what’s at stake. He laid out how, while it is still possible both teams could make it depending on the results of the SEC Tournament, a lot hinges on Saturday evening.

“The winner of this game, if they’re able to win their first round SEC opener, I think they’re gonna be in the big dance,” Lunardi said. “Sure, there are bid stealer scenarios. We could have five bid stealers, as was the case a year ago. But there’s never been anything close to that. So let’s assume there’s the usual one or two. Two more wins for either of these teams counting tonight,, and they should be safe.

“That would be 13 for the SEC. Certainly the loser of those game is going to be playing quad 1 after quad 1 after quad 1 game in Nashville if they’re going to able to advance and then all bets are off and they could both make it. It just seems unlikely that the cards would break quite that well for anybody.”

Texas won the first game between the two rivals this season in Norman, but Oklahoma surely won’t go down easily this time around in Austin. So far Bryce Goodine and Glenn Taylor have combined for 10 points apiece to lead the team.

Things have remained neck-and-neck so far with neither team having led by more than six points all evening. Currently, Oklahoma is hanging on to a 47-44 advantage with 14:30 remaining.

As of Lunardi’s latest NCAA Tournament projections, Oklahoma was the last team in while Texas found itself among the first four out. Of course, that could change for the Longhorns if they can find a way to come back and win here.

We’ll keep our eyes on this game which is sure to have an exciting finish to close out the regular season. Both teams already know their opponnent for the opening round of the SEC Tournament next week, and you can view the bracket here.

Oklahoma will face Georgia while Texas will take on Vanderbilt.