The 2025 – 2026 College Basketball Season is upon us. This year is set to be an extremely exciting one, with many top teams having been reconstructed during the span from April to November. On top of that, many elite freshmen have joined programs, set to make their mark before entering the draft next year. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Last year, the four best teams in the country were Duke, Florida, Houston and Auburn. This year, Houston is ranked number two after keeping much of the same roster, while also bringing in a few top freshmen. Defending champion Florida is number three, undergoing a big roster change that saw numerous top transfers end up with the Gators. Duke, ranked number six, has one of the best freshman classes coming in this year. And Auburn experienced the biggest drop out of any of them, going down to twenty.
Beyond Last year’s top four, the consensus #1 Team is Purdue, led by Braden Smith, a favorite to win Naismith Player of the Year. Two Big East powerhouses, UConn and St. John’s are ranked at #4 and #5, respectively. Some of the other big teams to watch are Michigan, BYU, and Louisville, all within the top 15. Outside of the biggest names, other ranked schools who look dangerous include Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, and North Carolina.
All eyes are on three big freshmen this season: AJ Dybantsa, Darren Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. These three all look like legitimate #1 pick candidates, and unlike last year where there was only one, any one of them could get it. AJ Dybantsa plays for BYU, a 6’9″ forward who has been the top player in the class for most of high school. Darren Peterson, guard for Kansas, is the current favorite to be the #1 pick after a very strong senior year. Cameron Boozer, the prized recruit of Duke, is a dominant forward and has always been a winner. These three players should be watched closely, as they have made their respective teams top candidates this season.
Outside of freshmen, the players to watch this year are Purdue’s Braden Smith, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, NC State’s Darrion Williams, and Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz.
The favorite teams to win it all this year: Florida, UConn, Kentucky, Duke, Houston and Purdue (the favorite).
Watch for the top teams to dominate this year, thanks to the presence of NIL allowing teams to get the best of the best. Watch for Duke and Houston to be back to the Final Four this year, while Florida will look to go back-to-back.
