As the dust has settled following the 2025 NCAA Tournament and the transfer portal has opened, it’s time to take stock of who the top teams in the country may be.
Which teams are destined for a breakout campaign?
Way-Too-Early Top 25 Men’s Hoops Rankings
Much has changed roster-wise and will continue to change once the season is tipped off in late fall, but we’ll begin with a team that played in the final game of the 2024-25 season and enters 2026 with high expectations.
1) Houston Cougars
After reaching the national title game less than a month ago, the Cougars may be even better suited for a title run come 2026. Along with the return of combo guard Emanuel Sharp and forward Joseph Tugler — who claimed the nation’s defensive player of the year award — coach Kelvin Sampson is welcoming three consensus top-25 recruits into the fold.
Scoring was a problem at times last season, but the addition of former Creighton Bluejays guard Pop Isaacs will immediately help on that end, as he averaged 16.3 points and 3.9 assists last season. Once again, Sampson is set to field an ultra-competitive, defensively-minded team — which may be even better offensively in 2026.
2) Purdue Boilermakers
When point guard Braden Smith announced his decision to return to Purdue for his senior season, it solidified the Boilermakers’ case as having the best Big 3 in the country.
With Smith (15.8 points and 8.7 assists), forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1 points) and shooting guard Fletcher Loyer (13.8 points on 44.4% from deep) all back for their senior year, Purdue will come into the season as the favorite to win the Big Ten and a popular pick to make a Final Four run.
3) Kentucky Wildcats
Coach Mark Pope proved his coaching prowess at the highest level in leading the Wildcats to the Sweet Sixteen in 2025. Looking ahead, his team may be even more talented on paper.
Leading scorer and emotional leader Otega Oweh is back for his senior season after averaging 16.2 points and will play alongside former Florida Gators guard, senior Denzel Aberdeen, who will provide a veteran presence.
Pope also welcomes two four-star prospects to the lineup, in guard Jasper Johnson and center Malachi Moreno.
4) Louisville Cardinals
After completing a stellar turnaround in his first year at the helm, coach Pat Kelsey is looking for even more in 2026. Although several of the team’s top players exhausted their eligibility, the transfer portal has been very kind to the Cardinals.
The addition of former Kennesaw State guard, freshman Adrian Wooley, is a big one, as he averaged 18.8 points and 3.6 assists in being named the C-USA Rookie of the Year last season. Junior guards Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely join Louisville from Xavier and Virginia, respectively, as terrific shooters and double-digit scorers who will contribute immediately.
5) Arkansas Razorbacks
After a surprise run to the Sweet Sixteen following a relatively disappointing regular season, things are looking up for the Razorbacks. While multiple key players will depart, combo guard and former five-star D.J. Wagner will be back after averaging 11.2 points and 3.6 assists in his freshman season. Former four-star forward Karter Knox is also returning after showing promise as a three-level scorer.
Per usual for a Calipari-coached team, Arkansas will be joined by two five-star prospects, point guard Darius Acuff Jr. and combo guard Maleek Thomas, creating one of the most talented rosters in the nation.
6) Duke Blue Devils
Fresh off a Final Four run, the Blue Devils will restock ahead of next season by welcoming the highly-touted Boozer twins. Cameron is the headliner, as he’s the third-rated prospect in the 2025 class per 247 Sports and will be a physical presence right away at 6’9″, 235 pounds. But Cayden is no slouch either, as he’s the 23rd-ranked player and will fit in as a point guard.
Duke received good news when former four-star guard Caleb Foster announced his decision to return for his junior season after showing talent in his first two seasons in Durham. Coach Jon Scheyer has shown his ability to mix talent, and he’s expected to do so at a high level once again.
7) BYU Cougars
After securing the commitment of five-star recruit A.J. Dybantsa, wooing promising freshman point guard Robert Wright III away from Baylor, and retaining sweet-shooting forward Richie Saunders, BYU finds itself inside our top 10.
It’s hard to see how the offseason could’ve gone any better for coach Kevin Young and the Cougars coming off a Sweet Sixteen berth in March. While a lot of their recruiting success has to do with their immense NIL fund, Young proved his chops as one of the top young coaches in the country and will be tasked with guiding one of the most talented rosters in BYU history.
8) UCLA Bruins
The Bruins overachieved last season, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling. They return nearly every impact player from their core and added one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal, New Mexico Lobos guard Donovan Dent.
During his junior season with the Lobos, Dent averaged 20.4 points along with 6.4 assists. The duo of Dent and 6’9″ junior forward Tyler Bilodeau should wreak havoc in the Big Ten, where they suddenly emerge amongst the favorites to win the conference.
9) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Though they’re set to endure the loss of key forward Darrion Williams, the Red Raiders appear to have reloaded in preparation for a deep NCAA Tournament run and a Big 12 title. 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year J.T. Toppin’s return to Lubbock was big news, as he was arguably the team’s best player during their Elite Eight run.
The transfer portal additions of Washington State forward LeJuan Watts (13.7 points), UNC Greensboro guard Donovan Atwell (13.3 points), and Santa Clara guard Tyeree Bryan (10.4 points) will help replace the scoring void vacated by Williams.
10) Tennessee Volunteers
Though he’s losing his top four scorers from a season ago, coach Rick Barnes has repeatedly done a terrific job with the Volunteers, and 2026 is expected to be no different.
The additions of proven contributors in guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who averaged 14.7 points for the Maryland Terrapins, and Jaylen Carey, who averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Vanderbilt Commodores, will surely help — but it’s the commitment of five-star forward Nate Ament that raises the ceiling for the Volunteers.
11) Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines reeled in a terrific transfer class after seeing off several of their most productive players in 2025. Among them, Eliot Cadeau is the most proven after running the show at point guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels the past two seasons.
This ranking comes with a major caveat, however: Top-rated transfer addition Yaxel Lendeborg was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. However, he is reportedly testing the NBA Draft waters and may be leaning towards entering the draft. If not, he’d be one of the best players in the Big Ten right away and the focal point of the Wolverines on both ends of the floor.
12) Alabama Crimson Tide
Coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide now have the expectation of being a top-ranked team, which will be difficult considering the loss of point guard Mark Sears and several other key contributors. Backup guard Aden Holloway seems poised to step into that role after averaging 11.4 points in limited minutes as a sophomore.
13) Wisconsin Badgers
After a heartbreaking second loss in the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers graduated First Team All-Big Ten performer Jon Tonje but welcomed back second-leading scorer John Blackwell, who scored 15.8 points per game last season. Only a sophomore, Blackwell still has more room to grow and will be helped by potentially three impactful transfer portal recruits.
14) Auburn Tigers
All five starters from Auburn’s Final Four run are graduating, yet coach Bruce Pearl did a tremendous job bringing in talent and proven production through the transfer portal. Junior forward Keyshawn Hall averaged 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds for the UCF Knights a season ago.
A major wildcard for the Tigers is whether or not freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford will come back. He announced that he’s going through the draft process and will return to the Tigers if he chooses to stay in college, a major swing that could change the outlook of college basketball a year from now—he’s that good.
15) Michigan State Spartans
The core of a terrific defensive unit remains for coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans a year after winning 30 games and reaching the Elite Eight. The question over who can score was an issue for the 2025 Spartans, and they’ll likely face a similar predicament. But make no mistake: This veteran-laden squad will win basketball games and is certainly deserving of a top-15 ranking.
16) UConn Huskies
Although the Huskies couldn’t defend their back-to-back national titles, getting bounced in the second round, coach Dan Hurley can never be counted out, especially with what is shaping up to be an experienced, veteran squad in 2026. Solo Ball and Georgia Bulldogs transfer Silas Demary Jr. will be tough to guard for opposing backcourts.
17) St. John’s Red Storm
Despite the loss of several top players—including the recent unexpected departure of guard Simeon Wilcher—coach Rick Pitino brought in an excellent transfer class, headlined by former Providence Friars forward Bryce Hopkins, who averaged 17 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. He’ll pair up with First Team All-Big East center Zuby Ejiofor to form one of the best frontcourts in the country.
18) Florida Gators
The defending national champions don’t usually find themselves this far down, but the Gators are losing all three of their top guards to graduation and top forward Alex Condon to the draft. This ranking may even be generous, as the only addition to the team is former Princeton guard Xaivian Lee. Coach Todd Golden does have a championship pedigree, which is why the Gators land here.
19) Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats received positive news this week when guards Jaden Bradley and Anthony Dell’Orso, forward Tobe Awaka, and center Motiejus Krivas announced their return to Tucson for the 2025-26 season. In this age of college basketball, getting four contributors back — who will play alongside two five-stars and one four-star prospect — is a major win.
20) Oregon Ducks
Similar to the Wildcats, the Ducks secured the return of top guard Jackson Shelstad and forward Kwame Evans Jr. ahead of next season. Center Nate Bittle, who proved himself to be one of the best bigs in the Big Ten, is going through the NBA Draft process while keeping his eligibility. If he returns to Eugene, Oregon could be a major threat in the conference and a dark horse to make a deep tournament run.
21) Gonzaga Bulldogs
With two-time All-WCC First Team performer, forward Graham Ike, likely back in the fold for his fifth-year senior season, the Bulldogs will be the favorite in the WCC and once again be ranked in the top 25. Colgate transfer point guard Braeden Smith will fill the leading assist man, Ryan Nembhard’s, shoes in setting the table for the team.
22) North Carolina Tar Heels
Despite sneaking into the NCAA Tournament after a late-season run, the 2024-25 campaign was a major disappointment for coach Hubert Davis’ squad. It won’t be easy next year, as he’ll field a brand new team built through the transfer portal — but the talent, led by incoming five-star Caleb Wilson, is there if he can gel the team together.
23) Kansas Jayhawks
Much of the production from last season’s team is headed out the door for the Jayhawks, which may not be the worst thing, as dysfunction followed the team throughout the season. Top-rated 2025 recruit Darryn Peterson will join the mix next season alongside multiple talented transfers.
24) Creighton Bluejays
Although both starting guards and starting center Ryan Kalkbrenner won’t be back, coach Greg McDermott fielded an excellent transfer class headlined by a pair of former Iowa Hawkeyes in guard Josh Dix and forward Owen Freeman. The duo combined to score 31.1 points and grab 9.9 rebounds a season ago.
25) Iowa Hawkeyes
With newly-named coach Ben McCollum and the “D-II Drake” squad following their coach, it’s hard not to rank the Hawkeyes. McCollum and five of his now Hawkeyes players upset the Missouri Tigers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on their way to a 31-win season. It’s unlikely they’ll be nearly as dominant in the Big Ten, but they should slot in as an upper-tier contender.
KEEP READING: Texas Tech Secures JT Toppin With Bank-Breaking $4 Million NIL Deal
Just Missed:
- Texas Longhorns
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Baylor Bears
- Ole Miss Rebels
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
