Oklahoma State was among the worst teams in the country last season, but it has an outside shot at being one of the best next season. OSU’s key to building its roster this offseason was gathering players who had seen limited opportunity but showcased talent at larger schools and players who had shown they needed a step up in competition to match their level of play.

an expansion of the 2026 bracket has practically been a foregone conclusion for months.

The new format was widely expected after last season’s jumbled bracket gave byes to Big 12 champion Arizona State and Mountain West champion Boise State, even though those teams were ranked ninth and...