The Boilermakers are poised to dominate college basketball in 2025-26, entering the season as consensus preseason No. 1 in multiple rankings. With a veteran core returning and strategic additions through the transfer portal, Purdue has positioned itself as the team to beat in what promises to be an electrifying campaign.
Coach Matt Painter’s squad faces enormous expectations after last season’s Sweet 16 appearance. The projected No. 1 overall seed for the 2026 NCAA Tournament would enjoy a geographically favorable path through March Madness, potentially never traveling more than four hours from campus en route to Indianapolis for the Final Four.
“Purdue and Everyone Else”: Big Ten Dominance
“It’s Purdue and everyone else. I’m going to have a very difficult time not making Purdue be the preseason number one team and not having Braden Smith be the preseason player of the year for me nationally, not just in the Big 10, nationally,” analysts said on “The Field of 68: Affter Dark,” highlighting the Boilermakers’ commanding position in the conference.
While teams like Illinois and Michigan State lurk in the conference race, none match Purdue’s complete package.
“You got the best point guard in America, you have another all-American at the four-five and you got one of the best coaches in the game. I mean, did you check those three boxes? Who else can say that in America?”
Their defensive outlook improves significantly with added frontcourt depth allowing more aggressive schemes. The coaching staff had to “get so creative with coverages” last season to protect their thin frontcourt rotation, but now “can be maybe a little bit more aggressive or have more of a set defense” with reinforcements arriving.
Roster Strength: Building Around Braden Smith
The heart of Purdue’s championship aspirations beats in All-American guard Braden Smith, the preseason Wooden Award favorite who returns alongside fellow starters Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn. This experienced core gives the Boilermakers one of the most battle-tested lineups in college basketball heading into the new season.
Addressing the void left by Zach Edey’s departure, Purdue secured South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff, described as “every bit of 7’1″, 260 pounds… an enormous human being that can do all of the stuff that Matt Painter is going to want.” Daniel Jacobsen emerges as a potential breakout star, providing much-needed rim protection.
The addition of Omir Mayer represents a significant upgrade for guard depth. Smith played virtually every minute down the stretch last season, but now “it’s not 40 minutes with the weight of your world, weight of the world on your shoulders, manning all the ball handling responsibilities. So, he can at least alleviate some of that.”
Bracketologists have already penciled in Purdue for a favorable tournament path that could see them start in St. Louis for the first and second rounds before advancing to Chicago for the Midwest Regional. This geographical advantage could prove crucial as the Boilermakers chase their championship dreams.
Purdue’s betting odds tell a compelling story about its championship potential. They are listed at +1000 to +1400 to cut down the nets next April. These odds place Purdue firmly in the top three title contenders alongside perennial powerhouses Duke and Houston.
The program’s recent tournament history bolsters confidence in its ability to make a deep run. It has reached at least the second weekend in six of the last nine tournaments. Despite last season’s earlier-than-hoped exit against Houston, the team’s improved roster balance could finally push it over the championship threshold.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
With Indianapolis hosting the Final Four, the stars seem aligned for Purdue’s championship pursuit. The combination of elite talent, coaching continuity, and a potentially home-state finale makes the Boilermakers the safest pick to contend for the national title in 2026, cementing their status as the team everyone will be chasing.
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