Columbus will host the Women's Final Four this season. But in the latest reveal by the NCAA women's basketball selection committee Thursday, the hometown school, Ohio State, isn't among the top 16 seeds that will host the NCAA tournament's early-round games. But a familiar name, Notre Dame, is back among the top four.
Ohio State, which was No. 10 in the NCAA's first reveal, on Jan. 17, has dropped out, as has another Big Ten team, Rutgers. But the two teams that have replaced them are also in the Big Ten: No. 13 Maryland and No. 15 Michigan.
The Wolverines didn't make the NCAA tournament last year but won the WNIT title. Michigan was 8-2 in the Big Ten entering Thursday and poised to challenge for the conference title with Maryland, which was 7-1 entering Thursday.
Meanwhile on the top seed line, three of the teams remain the same from the previous reveal. No. 1 UConn is in the Albany Region, No. 2 Mississippi State is in the Kansas City Region, and No. 3 Louisville is in the Lexington Region.
But there is a new top seed in the Spokane Region: Notre Dame has moved up to the No. 4 spot ahead of Oregon, which was fourth in the first reveal. The Ducks are now No. 5.
"This is just a snapshot in time, and there are a lot of games left to be played," said Rhonda Lundin Bennett, chair of the Division I Women's Basketball Committee.
Meanwhile, Big 12 leader Baylor made a jump from No. 9 to No. 6. The SEC continues to lead the way with the most teams on the list, with six. The ACC has three teams, and the Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 two each.
"I think for Baylor, they continued to win,'' Bennett said. "They had a win over Texas, and also they had some great wins against teams in the top of the Big 12. Those are things we look at."
While the top 16 is loaded with Power 5 schools, Bennett said a team that was just outside the mix was Wisconsin-Green Bay.
"They are doing quite well and playing well," Bennett said. "We talk about teams and what they can control. You can control your nonconference, but you can't control your conference. Don't penalize them for games they can't schedule."
The third and final reveal will be on Feb. 19.
1. UConn (Albany Regional); 2. Mississippi State (Kansas City Regional); 3. Louisville (Lexington Regional); 4. Notre Dame (Spokane Regional) 5. Oregon, 6. Baylor, 7. South Carolina; 8. Florida State; 9. Texas, 10. UCLA; 11. Tennessee; 12. Georgia, 13. Maryland; 14. Missouri; 15. Michigan, 16 Texas A&M
The Associated Press contributed to this report.