The first AP poll of the upcoming 2025-26 college basketball season has just been released, but it hasn’t been received well by fans. On Monday, Oct. 13, @marchmadnessmbb on Instagram uploaded the first AP poll of the year, as the collegiate hoops scene is still in its preseason stages, with its official commencement less than a month away.
The current rankings have coach Matt Painter’s Purdue Boilermakers as the consensus No. 1, followed by Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars, the 2025 NCAA tournament finalists. Todd Golden’s Florida Gators, the incoming national champions, are third. Coach Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies, who were the title winners in 2023 and 2024, are in fourth place.
“🚨 FIRST AP POLL OF THE 2025-2026 SEASON,” @marchmadnessmbb on Instagram captioned with an emoji.
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College basketball fans are not happy with how some teams are ranked, especially when it comes to Big Ten conference squads and the recent national title-winning programs.
“Death, taxes, Big Ten overrated,” one fan claimed.
“Disrespect Florida should be one hands down…BACK TO BACK 😈🐊🐊🐊,” another fan asserted with a plethora of alligator emojis.
“Death, taxes, Michigan being ranked way too high every year,” another user shared.
“Pitino is putting belt to culo on Hurley 4 times this season. Mark it down,” a user said, mentioning Huskies coach Dan Hurley and St. John’s Red Storm tactician Rick Pitino.
Other users gave their takes on which programs can take the upper echelon of the 2025-26 college basketball landscape.
“As a Kentucky fan, y’all sleeping on Louisville,” one fan pointed out.
“Kentucky coming in at nine and ending at nine, banner nine coming soon,” another fan wrote.
“Dang, these other teams must be amazing if Arizona isn’t in the top 10,” a fan commented.
Rounding out the top 10 of the first AP poll of the 2025-26 campaign include, in succeeding order, the St. John’s Red Storm, the Duke Blue Devils, the Michigan Wolverines, the BYU Cougars, the Kentucky Wildcats, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Read More: Way-Too-Early Predictions: Top 5 Teams That Can Win 2026 March Madness Ft. Purdue
The Auburn Tigers Are Ranked 20th in AP Poll
To the surprise of many, the Auburn Tigers, who were the top-ranked team in the AP poll last year and were the fourth 2025 NCAA Final Four finalist, sit outside the top 10 and are listed at No. 20.
This may stem from the fact that the Tigers recently had their tenured coach, Bruce Pearl, retire, and key cogs such as Johni Broome have graduated from the team.
Also Read: CBB Insider Claims Big Ten Powerhouse Is the Only Real Threat to Purdue in 2025
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