The 2025-26 preseason men’s college basketball AP Top 25 poll results are out!
Purdue will tip off the season at No. 1. Reigning national champion Florida and national runner-up Houston are also in the mix for the top spot. Can either the Gators of the Cougars return to the NCAA title game (April 6, Indianapolis)?
The top 25 features bluebloods Duke (No. 6), Kentucky (No. 9), Kansas (No. 19) and North Carolina (No. 25). All eyes will be on No. 8 BYU, as the Cougars — helmed by No. 1 recruit and projected top NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa — attempt to improve on last season’s Sweet 16 run.
The ever-present transfer portal and 62 coaching changes, coupled with NIL and the launch of revenue sharing, will make this college basketball season one to watch when it begins on Nov. 3.
Let’s break down the projected starting lineups and biggest early season games for each of the 25 men’s hoops teams in the AP Poll rankings.
All times Eastern
2024-25 record: 24-12 (lost to 1-seed Houston in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Evansville, TBD
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Auburn in Indianapolis (Indy Classic), 6:30 p.m., Peacock
Projected starting lineup:
Braden Smith (15.8 PPG)
C.J. Cox (6.0 PPG)
Fletcher Loyer (13.8 PPG)
Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1 PPG)
Oscar Cluff (17.6 PPG at South Dakota State)
2024-25 record: 35-5 (lost to 1-seed Florida in national title game)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Lehigh, TBD
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 16 vs. Auburn in Birmingham (Battleground 2k25), 3 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Milos Uzan (11.4 PPG)
Emanuel Sharp (12.7 PPG)
Isiah Harwell (No. 14 in ESPN 100)
Joseph Tugler (5.5 PPG)
Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 6 in ESPN 100)
2024-25 record: 36-4 (won national championship)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Arizona in Las Vegas (Hall of Fame Series), 7 p.m., TNT
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 at Duke (ACC/SEC Challenge), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Boogie Fland (13.5 PPG at Arkansas)
Xaivian Lee (16.9 PPG at Princeton)
Thomas Haugh (9.8 PPG)
Alex Condon (10.6 PPG)
Rueben Chinyelu (6.1 PPG)
2024-25 record: 24-11 (lost to 1-seed Florida in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. New Haven, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 9 vs. Florida in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Silas Demary Jr. (13.5 PPG at Georgia)
Solo Ball (14.4 PPG)
Braylon Mullins (No. 17 in ESPN 100)
Alex Karaban (14.3 PPG)
Tarris Reed Jr. (9.6 PPG)
2024-25 record: 31-5 (lost to 10-seed Arkansas in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Quinnipiac, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Kentucky in Atlanta (CBS Sports Classic), 12:30 p.m., CBS
Projected starting lineup:
Ian Jackson (11.9 PPG at North Carolina)
Joson Sanon (11.9 PPG at Arizona State)
Oziyah Sellers (13.7 PPG at Stanford)
Bryce Hopkins (15.5 PPG at Providence in 2023-24)
Zuby Ejiofor (14.7 PPG)
2024-25 record: 35-4 (lost to 1-seed Houston in Final Four)
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Texas in Charlotte (Dick Vitale Invitational), 8:45 p.m., ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 vs. Kansas in New York (Champions Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Caleb Foster (5.1 PPG)
Isaiah Evans (6.8 PPG)
Nikolas Khamenia (No. 15 in ESPN 100)
Cameron Boozer (No. 3 in ESPN 100)
Patrick Ngongba II (3.9 PPG)
2024-25 record: 27-10 (lost to 1-seed Auburn in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Oakland, 8:30 p.m., FS1
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 25 vs. Auburn in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 8:30 p.m., TNT
Projected starting lineup:
Elliot Cadeau (9.4 PPG at North Carolina)
Roddy Gayle Jr. (9.8 PPG)
Nimari Burnett (9.4 PPG)
Yaxel Lendeborg (17.7 PPG at UAB)
Morez Johnson Jr. (7.0 PPG at Illinois)
2024-25 record: 26-10 (lost to 2-seed Alabama in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Villanova in Las Vegas (Hall of Fame Series), 9:30 p.m., TNT
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. UConn in Boston (Hall of Fame Series – Boston), 7 p.m., FOX
Projected starting lineup:
Robert Wright III (11.5 PPG at Baylor)
Kennard Davis Jr. (16.3 PPG at Southern Illinois)
Richie Saunders (16.5 PPG)
AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 in ESPN 100)
Keba Keita (7.4 PPG)
2024-25 record: 24-12 (lost to 2-seed Tennessee in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Nicholls, 7 p.m., SECN+
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 vs. North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Jaland Lowe (16.8 PPG at Pitt)
Denzel Aberdeen (7.7 PPG at Florida)
Otega Oweh (16.2 PPG)
Mouhamed Dioubate (7.2 PPG at Alabama)
Brandon Garrison (5.9 PPG)
2024-25 record: 28-9 (lost to 1-seed Florida in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Lindenwood, TBD
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Duke in New York, 8 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Christian Anderson (10.6 PPG)
Tyeree Bryan (10.4 PPG at Santa Clara)
LeJuan Watts (13.7 PPG at Washington State)
JT Toppin (18.2 PPG)
Luke Bamgboye (3.8 PPG at VCU)
2024-25 record: 27-8 (lost to 9-seed Creighton in round of 64)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. SC State, 9 p.m., ACC Network
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 11 vs. Kentucky, 8 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 8 in ESPN 100)
Isaac McKneely (14.4 PPG at Virginia)
Ryan Conwell (16.5 PPG at Xavier)
J’Vonne Hadley (12.2 PPG)
Sananda Fru (12.6 PPG for Loewen Braunschweig)
2024-25 record: 23-11 (lost to 2-seed Tennessee in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Eastern Washington, 10:30 p.m., BTN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 14 vs. Arizona in Inglewood (Hall of Fame Series – Los Angeles), 10 p.m., Peacock
Projected starting lineup:
Donovan Dent (20.4 PPG at New Mexico)
Skyy Clark (8.5 PPG)
Eric Dailey (11.4 PPG)
Tyler Bilodeau (13.5 PPG)
Steven Jamerson II (10.0 PPG at San Diego)
2024-25 record: 24-13 (lost to 1-seed Duke in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Florida in Las Vegas (Hall of Fame Series), 7 p.m., TNT
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 6 vs. Auburn, TBD
Projected starting lineup:
Jaden Bradley (12.1 PPG)
Brayden Burries (No. 12 in ESPN 100)
Anthony Dell’Orso (7.2 PPG)
Koa Peat (No. 10 in ESPN 100)
Tobe Awaka (8.0 PPG)
2024-25 record: 22-14 (lost to 3-seed Texas Tech in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Houston in Newark (Never Forget Tribute Classic), 5:30 p.m., CBS/Paramount+
Projected starting lineup:
Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7 in ESPN 100)
D.J. Wagner (11.2 PPG)
Karter Knox (8.3 PPG)
Trevon Brazile (6.8 PPG)
Malique Ewin (14.2 PPG at Florida State)
2024-25 record: 28-9 (lost to 1-seed Duke in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. North Dakota, TBD
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 13 vs. Purdue, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Labaron Philon Jr. (10.6 PPG)
Aden Holloway (11.4 PPG)
Latrell Wrightsell (11.5 PPG)
Taylor Bol Bowen (8.0 PPG at Florida State)
Aiden Sherrell (3.4 PPG)
2024-25 record: 25-10 (lost to 6-seed Ole Miss in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 24 vs. St. John’s in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 4:30 p.m., truTV
Projected starting lineup:
Tamin Lipsey (10.6 PPG)
Jamarion Batemon (No. 77 in ESPN 100)
Milan Momcilovic (11.5 PPG)
Joshua Jefferson (13.0 PPG)
Blake Buchanan (5.7 PPG at Virginia)
2024-25 record: 22-13 (lost to 3-seed Kentucky in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Jackson State, 8:30 p.m., BTN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 28 vs. UConn in New York, 12:30 p.m., FOX
Projected starting lineup:
Mihailo Petrovic (14.3 PPG for Mega Superbet)
Kylan Boswell (12.3 PPG)
Andrej Stojakovic (17.9 PPG at California)
Zvonimir Ivisic (8.5 PPG at Arkansas)
Tomislav Ivisic (13.0 PPG)
2024-25 record: 30-8 (lost to 1-seed Houston in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Mercer, 7 p.m., SECN+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 25 vs. Houston in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 6 p.m., TNT/HBO Max
Projected starting lineup:
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.7 PPG at Maryland)
Amaree Abram (12.3 PPG at Louisiana Tech)
Nate Ament (No. 4 in ESPN 100)
Cade Phillips (4.6 PPG)
Felix Okpara (7.1 PPG)
2024-25 record: 21-13 (lost to 10-seed Arkansas in round of 64)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Green Bay, TBD
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 vs. Duke in New York (Champions Classic), 8 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Darryn Peterson (No. 2 in ESPN 100)
Melvin Council Jr. (14.6 PPG at St. Bonaventure)
Jayden Dawson (13.9 PPG at Loyola Chicago)
Tre White (10.5 PPG at Illinois)
Flory Bidunga (5.9 PPG)
2024-25 record: 32-6 (lost to 1-seed Florida in Final Four)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Bethune-Cookman, TBD
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Purdue in Indianapolis (Indy Classic), 6:30 p.m., Peacock
Projected starting lineup:
Tahaad Pettiford (11.7 PPG)
Kevin Overton (7.8 PPG at Texas Tech)
Elyjah Freeman (19.3 PPG at D-II Lincoln Memorial)
Keyshawn Hall (18.8 PPG at UCF)
KeShawn Murphy (11.7 PPG at Mississippi State)
2024-25 record: 26-9 (lost to 1-seed Houston in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Texas Southern, TBD, ESPN+
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 5 vs. Kentucky in Nashville, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Mario Saint-Supery (8.3 PPG for BAXI Manresa)
Adam Miller (9.8 PPG at Arizona State)
Tyon Grant-Foster (14.8 PPG at Grand Canyon)
Braden Huff (11.0 PPG)
Graham Ike (17.3 PPG)
2024-25 record: 19-16 (lost to 1-seed Auburn in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov.3 vs. Colgate, 7 p.m., B1G+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 vs. Kentucky in New York (Champions Classic), 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Jeremy Fears Jr. (7.2 PPG)
Trey Fort (14.6 PPG at Samford)
Coen Carr (8.1 PPG)
Jaxon Kohler (7.8 PPG)
Carson Cooper (5.0 PPG)
2024-25 record: 25-11 (lost to 1-seed Auburn in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 5 vs. South Dakota, 8 p.m., Peacock
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 25 vs. Iowa State in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 2 p.m., truTV
Projected starting lineup:
Blake Harper (19.5 PPG at Howard)
Josh Dix (14.4 PPG at Iowa)
Jackson McAndrew (7.8 PPG)
Jasen Green (4.9 PPG)
Owen Freeman (16.7 PPG at Iowa)
2024-25 record: 27-10 (lost to 6-seed BYU in round of 32)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Campbell, 8 p.m., B1G+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 21 at BYU, 4 p.m., Peacock
Projected starting lineup:
Nick Boyd (13.4 PPG at San Diego State)
Andrew Rohde (9.3 PPG at Virginia)
John Blackwell (15.8 PPG)
Austin Rapp (13.8 PPG at Portland)
Nolan Winter (9.4 PPG)
2024-25 record: 23-14 (lost to 6-seed Ole Miss in round of 64)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Central Arkansas, TBD
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 at Kentucky (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Kyan Evans (10.6 PPG at Colorado State)
Seth Trimble (11.6 PPG)
Luka Bogavac (14.9 PPG for SC Derby)
Caleb Wilson (No. 5 in ESPN 100)
Henri Veesaar (9.4 PPG at Arizona)
What specific factors beyond win-loss record might cause a team listed in the “Bubble Watch” too ultimately secure an NCAA Tournament bid?
Deciphering the AP Men’s College Basketball preseason Top 25: Insights and Analysis
The Power of the Preseason Poll: Beyond the Rankings
The Associated Press (AP) Men’s College Basketball Preseason Top 25 is more than just a list; it’s a snapshot of expectations, a breeding ground for debate, and a surprisingly useful tool for informed college basketball betting and bracketology. While often imperfect, understanding why teams are ranked where they are offers valuable insight into the upcoming season. This year’s poll, released on October 13, 2025, presents some intriguing narratives. Let’s break down the key takeaways,potential over and under-ranked teams,and what to watch for as the season unfolds. We’ll focus on key contenders, dark horses, and potential pitfalls for each.
Top 5 Breakdown: Championship Contenders?
The top 5 typically represents the teams with the highest championship aspirations. In 2025, the AP poll has:
- Kansas: Returning National Player of the year, Hunter Dickinson, and a strong recruiting class solidify their top spot. Key to their success will be consistent guard play.
- Duke: Jon Scheyer’s program continues to build momentum. A blend of veteran leadership and highly-touted freshmen makes them a serious threat.
- Purdue: Zach Edey’s dominance is undeniable. However, can they overcome their past tournament struggles and find consistent scoring outside of their star center?
- Houston: Kelvin Sampson’s defensive prowess remains the foundation of their success. They’ll need to replace key pieces from last year’s Final Four team.
- Kentucky: John Calipari reloaded with another stellar recruiting class. The question is, how quickly will these freshmen gel and adapt to the college game?
Key Considerations: Preseason rankings heavily weigh returning talent and recruiting rankings. These top 5 teams all fit that bill. However, team chemistry and coaching adjustments are crucial factors that the poll can’t predict.
Mid-Range Teams (6-15): Potential Breakouts & Bubble Watch
This section of the Top 25 is where things get captivating. These teams have the potential to make a deep tournament run, but also face significant challenges.
* Marquette (8th): Shaka Smart has built a consistent winner. Their success hinges on maintaining their offensive efficiency.
* Baylor (12th): A strong backcourt and improved interior play could propel them into contention in the Big 12.
* Creighton (14th): Experienced guards and a solid frontcourt make them a dangerous opponent.
* Auburn (15th): Johni Broome’s return is a major boost.their success depends on developing consistent perimeter shooting.
Bubble Watch: Teams in this range are often on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Consistent performance against quality opponents is essential for securing a bid. Pay close attention to their Quadrant 1 and 2 wins.
The Dark Horses (16-25): Teams to watch
These teams may not be championship contenders, but they have the potential to surprise.
* San Diego State (18th): Returning key players from their Final Four run. Experience and defensive toughness will be their strengths.
* Texas Tech (21st): Grant McCasland is building a strong program in Lubbock. Their defensive intensity could make them a tough out.
* Dayton (24th): Anthony grant consistently has Dayton competitive. A strong non-conference schedule will be crucial.
Upsets & Bracket Busters: These teams are prime candidates to pull off upsets in the NCAA Tournament. Their success often relies on a specific matchup advantage or a hot shooting night.
Key Conference Breakdowns & Championship Odds Impact
The preseason poll reflects the perceived strength of conferences. The Big 12 (Kansas, Baylor, Texas Tech) and the Big East (Duke, Marquette, creighton) are heavily represented, indicating their status as the top conferences in the nation.
Championship Odds: The AP poll often correlates with early championship odds.
