Bleacher Report's Way-Too-Early 2026-27 Men's College Basketball Top 25

A first look at the top teams heading into the 2026-27 college basketball season

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:37am

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Bleacher Report has released its initial preseason top 25 rankings for the 2026-27 men's college basketball season, highlighting key roster changes, incoming recruits, and potential draft decisions that will shape the landscape of the sport next year.

Why it matters

The way-too-early top 25 provides an early glimpse at which programs are poised to be among the nation's elite next season, giving fans and analysts a starting point to discuss and debate the upcoming campaign before rosters are finalized over the next few months.

The details

The rankings feature several powerhouse programs expected to remain near the top, including Michigan, Duke, and Arizona, while also highlighting rising contenders like Illinois, Connecticut, and Arkansas. Notable storylines include the potential departures of star players testing the NBA draft, the impact of highly-touted recruiting classes, and veteran-laden teams looking to build on recent tournament success.

  • The rankings were released on April 7, 2026, several months before the start of the 2026-27 college basketball season.

The players

Keaton Wagler

A projected top-10 draft pick from the University of Illinois.

Cameron Boozer

A projected lottery pick from Duke University.

Flory Bidunga

A highly-touted frontcourt transfer target for the University of Michigan.

Dusty May

The head coach of the University of Michigan men's basketball team.

Elliot Cadeau

A returning backcourt player for the University of Michigan.

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What’s next

As the offseason continues, college basketball fans will closely monitor roster decisions, transfer portal activity, and any additional recruiting commitments that could further reshape the top 25 rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

The way-too-early top 25 provides an early snapshot of the college basketball landscape, highlighting the programs poised to be among the nation's elite next season. However, with rosters still in flux, the rankings are sure to evolve significantly in the coming months as the transfer portal, NBA draft decisions, and late recruiting additions reshape the outlook for many top contenders.