Top College Hoops Teams Emerge in Early Rankings

Pre-season projections highlight potential powerhouses for the 2025-26 season.

As college basketball fans look ahead, early projections are offering insights into which teams could dominate. Computer rankings are valuable for fans, coaches, and even the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Top Teams According to T-Rank

**Bart Torvik’s** T-Rank has released its preseason top five, forecasting a competitive landscape. According to **Torvik’s** current projections, Houston, Purdue, Michigan, Duke, and Florida are expected to be the teams to beat.

Big Ten Outlook

Here’s a look at how Big Ten teams are currently ranked in **Torvik’s** projections for the 2025-26 season, including roster updates:

Purdue

Ranked second, Purdue’s roster includes returning players **Braden Smith**, **C.J. Cox**, **Fletcher Loyer**, **Trey Kaufman-Renn**, **Daniel Jacobsen**, **Gicarri Harris**, **Raleigh Burgess**, and **Jack Benter**. They will be without **Caleb Furst**. New additions include **Oscar Cluff**, **Liam Murphy**, **Antione West**, and **Omer Mayer**.

Michigan

Michigan secures the third spot. Their roster includes **Oscar Goodman**, **Roddy Gayle Jr.**, **Nimari Burnett**, **Will Tschetter**, and **L.J. Cason**. New players arriving are **Elliot Cadeau**, **Morez Johnson Jr.**, **Yaxel Lendeberg**, **Aday Mara**, **Trey McKenney**, **Winters Grady**, **Patrick Liburd**, and **Malick Kordel**.

UCLA

UCLA is ranked eighth. The team’s eligibility remaining includes **Skyy Clark**, **Eric Dailey Jr.**, **Tyler Bilodeau**, **Trent Perry**, **Brandon Williams**, and **Eric Freeny**. Arriving players include **Steven Jamerson**, **Xavier Booker**, **Jamar Brown**, and **Donovan Dent**.

Illinois

Ninth-ranked Illinois’ roster features **Kylan Boswell**, **Ty Rodgers**, **Tomislav Ivisic**, **Jake Davis**, **Jason episode**, and **Ben Humrichous**. Joining the team are **Zvonimir Ivisic**, **Andrej Stojakovic**, **Mihail Petrovic**, **Brandon Lee**, **Keaton Wagler**, and **David Mirkovic**.

Michigan State

Michigan State is currently ranked 18th. Key players returning are **Jeremy Fears**, **Coen Carr**, **Jaxon Kohler**, **Carson Cooper**, **Kur Teng**, and **Jesse McCulloch**. New to the team are **Kaleb Glenn**, **Trey Fort**, **Divine Ugochukwu**, **Denham Wojcik**, **Cam Ward**, and **Jordan Scott**.

Ohio State

Ohio State holds the 20th position, featuring **Bruce Thornton**, **John Mobley Jr.**, **Devin Royal**, **Taison Chatman**, **Colin White**, **Ivan Njegovan**, and **Kalen Etzler**. New additions include **Gabe Cupps**, **Christoph Tilly**, **Brandon Noel**, **Josh Ojianwuna**, **A’mare Bynum**, **Dorian Jones**, **Myles Herro**, and **Mathieu Grujicic**.

USC

USC is ranked 24th with returning player **Terrance Williams**. Joining the team are **Jacob Cofie**, **Amarion Dickerson**, **Jaden Brownell**, **Gabe Dynes**, **Ezra Ausar**, **Rodney Rice**, **Chad Baker-Mazara**, **Jordan Marsh**, **Ryan Cornish**, **EJ Neal**, **Alijah Arenas**, and **Jerry Easter**.

Oregon

Oregon is ranked 26th. The team includes **Jackson Shelstad**, **Kwame Evans**, **Dez Lindsay**, **Jamari Phillips**, and **Nate Bittle**. New players include **Devon Pryor**, **TK Simpkins**, **Sean Stewart**, **Miles Stewart**, and **JJ Frakes**.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is ranked 29th and includes **John Blackwell**, **Nolan Winter**, **Jack Janicki**, **Jack Robison**, and **Riccardo Greppi**. New additions are **Austin Rapp**, **Andrew Rohde**, **Nick Boyd**, **Zach Kinziger**, **Braeden Carrington**, **Will Garlock**, **Hayden Jones**, and **Aleksas Bieliauskas**.

Maryland

Maryland secures the 37th spot. New arrivals include **Pharrel Payne**, **Solomon Washington**, **Myles Rice**, **David Coit**, **Andre Mills**, **George Turkson Jr.**, **Elijah Saunders**, **Isaiah Watts**, **Collin Metcalf**, **Rakease Passmore**, **Darius Adams**, **Guillermo Del Pino**, **Aleks Alston**, and **Jaziah Harper**.

Iowa

Iowa is ranked 40th with returning player **Cooper Koch**. New players are **Kael Combs**, **Isaia Howard**, **Cam Manyawu**, **Bennett Stirtz**, **Tavion Banks**, **Brendan Hausen**, **Álvaro Folgueiras**, **Ashton Williamson**, **Trevin Jirak**, and **Tate Sage**.

Indiana

Indiana is ranked 41st. New additions include **Conor Enright**, **Tucker DeVries**, **Reed Bailey**, **Lamar Wilkerson**, **Jasai Miles**, **Tayton Conerway**, **Jason Drake**, **Nick Dorn**, **Sam Alexis**, **Josh Harris**, **Trent Sisley**, and **Aleksa Ristic**.

Nebraska

Nebraska is ranked 42nd, featuring **Connor Essegian**, **Rienk Mast**, **Berke Buyupluncel**, **Sam Hoiberg**, **Braden Frager**, and **Cale Jacobsen**. New players arriving are **Pryce Sandfort**, **Ugnius Jarusevicius**, **Jamarques Lawrence**, **Will Cooper**, **Kendall Blue**, **Jared Garcia**, **Leo Curtis**, and **Quentin Rhymes**.

Washington

Washington is ranked 54th and includes **Zoom Diallo** and **Franck Kepnang**. Joining the team are **Lathan Sommerville**, **Quimari Peterson**, **Jacob Ognacevic**, **Wesley Yates**, **Bryson Tucker**, **Christian Nitu**, **Desmond Claude**, **JJ Mandaquit**, **Courtland Muldrew**, **Jasir Rencher**, **Hannes Steinbach**, and **Mady Traore**.

Northwestern

Northwestern is ranked 68th with returning players **K.J. Windham**, **Nick Martinelli**, **Justin Mullins**, **Jordan Clayton**, **Angelo Ciaravino**, and **Blake Smith**. New players arriving are **Jayden Reid**, **Max Green**, **Arrinten Page**, **Tre Singleton**, **Jake West**, **Tyler Kropp**, **Cade Bennerman**, and **Phoenix Gill**.

Minnesota

Minnesota is ranked 80th and includes **Isaac Asuma** and **Groyson Grove**. Joining the team are **B.J. Omot**, **Jaylen Crocker-Johnson**, **Bobby Durkin**, **Robert Vaihola**, **Langston Reynolds**, **Chansey Willis**, **Nehemiah Turner**, **Chance Stephens**, **Cade Tyson**, and **Kai Shinholster**.

Rutgers

Rutgers is ranked 94th with returning players **Jamichael Davis**, **Dylan Grant**, **Emmanuel Ogbole**, and **Bryce Dortch**. New players arriving are **Darren Buchanan Jr.**, **Tariq Francis**, **Baye Fall**, **Lino Mark**, **Chris nwuli**, **Gevonte Ware**, **Kaden Power**, **Harun zrno**, and **Denis Badalau**.

Penn State

Penn State is ranked 114th and includes **Freddie Dilione**, **Dominick Stewart**, and **Eli Rice**. Joining the team are **Josh Reed**, **Kayden Mingo**, **Mason Blackwood**, **Justin Houser**, **Ivan Juric**, **Reggie Grodin**, and **Melih Tunca**.

Non-Conference Matchups to Watch

Indiana’s schedule includes games against Kentucky (No. 13), Louisville (No. 16), and Marquette (No. 49). These matchups will provide early tests for the Hoosiers and offer insights into their potential for the upcoming season. According to CBS Sports, more than 350 Division I men’s teams compete each year (CBS Sports).