College Basketball Rankings: Predicting the Preseason AP Poll Top 25 as 2025-26 season approaches

As college basketball’s regular season nears, it is time for the Preseason AP Poll Top 25 to release. But first, take a look at how the offseason could impact where the voters place each team, from roster overhauls to coaching changes between March and October.

The 2025-26 season is just weeks away, and with many analytic models already turning in their preseason projections, there is some idea where things stand. As for those who cover the sport, the way they stack talented teams can vary greatly until on-court results solidify.

Based on a number of factors, this prediction will attempt to pin down where the 2025-26 Preseason AP Poll will rank the Top 25 teams. From there, plenty movement will follow the results over the weeks and months to come.

Predicted AP Poll Top 25

1. Purdue

Purdue brings a great combination of returning talent to the table with Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, along with incoming transfer Oscar Cluff and international prospect Omer Meyer. Led by Matt Painter, they have a formula which looks prime to keep them in contention again.

2. Houston

Houston brings back star production from a deep run last season with Milos Uzan and JoJo Tugler, with incoming freshmen Chris Cenac, Kingston Flemings and Isiah Harwell among those ready to take the team to another level. Kelvin Sampson again looks to integrate big talent into his tested system.

3. St. John’s

St. John’s loses a large chunk of production from last season, but returning star Zuby Ejiofor is joined by a transfer class which includes Ian Jackson, Bryce Hopkins, Dillon Mitchell and Joson Sanon ready to take on big roles. With Rick Pitino on the bench, they are sure to remain in the mix once again.

4. Florida

Florida enters the season as reigning champions, bringing back Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh to anchor the frontcourt while Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee headline a transfer class ready to restock the guard position. Todd Golden continues his rise toward the top of the coaching profession with another promising season ahead.

5. Duke

Duke once again overhauls large portions of the roster, but with players like Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster back to complement Cameron Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia and Dame Sarr, they could make another deep run. The way Jon Scheyer runs the program continues to produce, with clear roles across the roster.

6. UConn

After back-to-back championships, UConn had a backslide last season but did see positives from returners Solo Ball, Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed, who are now joined by transfers like Silas Demary with eyes on a quick rise back up the rankings. Dan Hurley has cemented his name with the top coaches in the sport, drawing big attention to results.

7. Kentucky

Kentucky brings back the production of Brandon Garrison and Otega Oweh, with the addition of a long list of recruits and transfers which is headlined by Jasper Johnson, Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance. Mark Pope continues to create a culture, which he looks to build on.

8. Michigan

Michigan showed big things last season with Roddy Gayle and Nimari Burnett returning with experience beside incomers Elliot Cadeau, Morez Johnson and Yaxel Lendeborg. Dusty May also proved everyone right when he turned things around quickly for the Wolverines in a unique system.

9. Louisville

Louisville returns J’Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor and Kobe Rodgers from an overachieving roster with big incoming talent headlined by freshman Mikel Brown and transfer Isaac McKneely. With Pat Kelsey out to repeat his impressive first season, there is great optimism around the program.

10. Arkansas

Arkansas gets back the production of Trevon Brazile, Karter Knox and DJ Wagner, while adding Darius Acuff, Malique Ewin and Maleek Thomas among others. In Year Two under John Calipari, there is plenty optimism for what the program can produce.

Predicting 11-25

11. Kansas
12. BYU
13. Texas Tech
14. UCLA
15. Alabama
16. Tennessee
17. Iowa State
18. Arizona
19. Illinois
20. Auburn
21. NC State
22. Gonzaga
23. Creighton
24. Wisconsin
25. North Carolina

Should be in

Baylor, Michigan State, Texas, Texas A&M, Virginia

Every season, there is a group of teams which receive a significant number of votes without cracking the Top 25 during the preseason. Whether due to a snub or a greater tier of teams than number of spots available, there are sure to be teams on the outside looking in which have a case.

These teams will have the biggest gripe if they are left off the list, with various reasons to predict they will not get deserved love leading into the season.

Baylor brings in an entirely new roster with big potential but no tape as a unit, similar to Virginia which overhauled its group with a new coach at the helm. Meanwhile, Michigan State comes off an overachieving season which seemed like the perfect storm.

Texas and Texas A&M both bring in a new coach who had plenty to build on, considering they made the NCAA Tournament last season before a change in leadership. Until they prove themselves in the nonconference slate, it is uncertain where they will be viewed by voters.