The 2025-2026 college basketball season is coming to a close. Fans will be looking forward to next season, even if it is hard to forecast. Things will be even more up in the air with so many players in the transfer portal. Either way, here is the way-too-early 2026-2027 college basketball top 25.
Note: This will be updated throughout the month. It is wild to do this before the portal even opens, but here we are.
25. Auburn Tigers
Possible Key Returners: G Tahaad Pettiford, G Kevin Overton
The Tigers are coming off a nice run in the NIT. Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton could return, which would give Steven Pearl a chance to be much better in year two as head coach.
24. Florida Gators
Possible Key Returners: G Boogie Fland, G Urban Klavzar, G Isaiah Brown
Florida will lose their talented frontcourt, but Boogie Fland has eligibility remaining at point guard. Around him Urban Klavzar, Isaiah Brown and CJ Ingram could return to give Florida a nice starting point to a roster.
23. Purdue Boilermakers
Possible Key Returners: G CJ Cox, G Omer Mayer
A lot of the team is moving on, including some all-time Purdue greats. CJ Cox can return and improve, as well as backup point guard Omer Mayer, who will be given the reins to the offense. Matt Painter will need to fill the roster more, but he is usually able to get a lot out of his teams.
22. TCU Horned Frogs
Possible Key Returners: F David Punch, F Xavier Edmonds
David Punch and Xavier Edmonds can return to make a great frontcourt duo again. Jamie Dixon can bring a lot of his team back from a team that won a game in the tournament.
21. Houston Cougars
Possible Key Returners: F Chris Cenac, F JoJo Tugler
Kingston Flemings, Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharpe are all gone. Kelvin Sampson does a great job of player development, so convincing Chris Cenac to return could really help. He could pair with JoJo Tugler in the frontcourt again, while new guards will be needed.
20. Texas Longhorns
Possible Key Returners: F Dailyn Swain, F Matas Vokietaitis
There is a chance that both Dailyn Swain and Matas Vokietaitis will return for Sean Miller. If they do, Texas can build around their two leading scorers from last season.
19. USC Trojans
Possible Key Returners: G Rodney Rice, G Alijah Arenas
Rodney Rice was hurt early in the season and really threw off USC’s season. If he returns, he can play with a lot of talented younger players for a chance to give Eric Musselman his best team with the Trojans.
18. Vanderbilt Commodores
Possible Key Returners: G Tyler Tanner, F Tyler Harris
Tyler Tanner could go pro, but if he returns, he will be one of the best players in the SEC and maybe the country. Plenty of players got experience last year and they’ll need some to step up, but Tanner should also draw more talent in.
17. Kansas Jayhawks
Possible Key Returners: N/A
Bill Self has said he is returning for next season. He has the No. 4 recruiting class in the country (247sports), but could retain some of the roster as well, even with some already in the portal.
16. BYU Cougars
Possible Key Returners: G Rob Wright, F Kennard Davis
While plenty of key players leave, BYU has another good recruiting class coming in. The ball will be in Rob Wright’s hands a lot more and he should improve to help this team have another good season.
15. Texas A&M Aggies
Possible Key Returners: G Pop Isaacs, F Mackenzie Mgbako
Pop Isaacs and Macenkzie Mgbako have dealt with injuries in their careers, but are both quality players who could return to make year two of the Bucky McMillan era even better than year one.
14. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Possible Key Returners: G Pryce Sandfort, G Braden Frager
Pryce Sandfort, Connor Essegian and Braden Frager were huge parts of the Nebraska team this season that had the best year in school history. They can build on that, even while losing some key players.
13. North Carolina Tar Heels
Possible Key Returners: F Henry Veesar, G Luka Bogavac
Henry Veesar could return, which bolsters this ranking. Michael Malone worked with Nikola Jokic in the NBA and could develop him further. He could figure out how to run an offense to improve the play of Luka Bogavac.
12. St. John’s Red Storm
Possible Key Returners: G Dylan Darling, G Ian Jackson
Losing Zube Ejiofor will be tough, but Dylan Darling, Ian Jackson, J0son Sanon and Ruben Prey all can return. Darling can build off his huge March moment for the Red Storm.
11. Iowa State Cyclones
Possible Key Returners: F Milan Momcilovic, G Kylian Toure
Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson are out, but Milan Momcilovic and Killyan Toure bring enough experience back to think the team will be solid once again.
10. Virginia Cavaliers
Possible Key Returners: F Thijs de Ridder, G Sam Lewis
Ryan Odom had a great first season at Virginia and Thijs de Ridder can return. If he and Sam Lewis are back, Virginia can replicate the season they just had at the very least.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
Possible Key Returners: G Aden Holloway, F Amari Allen
Aden Holloway has some off-court issues going on, but his return would be huge on the floor. They have some talent returning around him and will be active in the portal.
8. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Possible Key Returners: F Braden Huff, G Mario Saint-Supery
Braden Huff was injured this season and it hurt the Bulldogs. He can return and pair well with Mario Saint-Supery, who showed some good flashes at the point.
7. Arkansas Razorbacks
Possible Key Returners: G Billy Richmond, G Karter Knox
John Calipari will lose a lot, but he is used to that and has plenty of talent coming in. He has the fifth-ranked recruiting class coming in and may be able to retain a few players from this year’s roster.
6. Illinois Fighting Illini
Possible Key Returners: F David Mirkovic, G Andrej Stojakovic, F Tomislav Ivisic
Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell are gone, but Illinois has stars who will just step up. David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic were big parts of this team and can give this team some real hope going into next season.
5. Arizona Wildcats
Possible Key Returners: F Mo Krivas, F Ivan Kharchenkov
Arizona will lose Jaden Bradley, Koa Peat, Brayden Burries and maybe more. But Mo Krivas, Ivan Kharchenkov and Dwayne Aristode could come back and be joined by some talented newcomers.
4. UConn Huskies
Possible Key Returners: G Silas Demary, G Solo Ball
Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed will be gone, but UConn will get some of their backcourt back in all likelihood. Silas Demary and Solo Ball could be one of the best backcourts in the country.
3. Duke Blue Devils
Possible Key Returners: G Isaiah Evans, G Caleb Foster
Duke will lose some players to the draft, but they will also retain some players. Add in the best recruiting class in the country and Duke should be near the top of the sport again this season.
2. Michigan State Spartans
Possible Key Returners: G Jeremy Fears, G Kur Teng
Getting Jeremy Fears Jr. back is huge and Tom Izzo will bring back a lot from this year’s team. On top of that, they have the third-best recruiting class in the country.
1. Michigan Wolverines
Possible Key Returners: G Elliott Cadeau, G LJ Cason, G Trey McKenney, F Morez Johnson
Michigan will likely lose some of their starters to the pros, but a decent amount of the roster could return. Elliott Cadeau, LJ Cason and Trey McKenney look like good bets to return to school. Morez Johnson and Aday Mara could return, but that is up in the air. The Wolverines have the second-best recruiting class in the country and will likely add some transfers as well.
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