College basketball rankings: Florida earns No. 1 spot in preseason AP Top 25 poll ahead of Duke, Illinois – USFTB

Florida is ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll released Monday after earning 47 of a possible 59 first-place votes. It marks the first time since 2006 that the Gators will open the college basketball campaign as the preseason top-ranked team.

The Gators were widely expected to begin the season No. 1 after a key offseason of retention that saw Todd Golden’s squad return four starters (Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Boogie Fland) from a team that won 27 games during the 2025-26 season and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

The last time Florida debuted at No. 1 in the preseason poll was when the program was coming off its first national title and returned a nucleus of its team, including Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Taurean Green. Florida went on to win its second consecutive title after opening the season at No. 1

Florida remains one of two programs — with UConn being the other — to win back-to-back national titles this century. The Gators will have an opportunity to make it two championships in three seasons if Florida is the final team standing in Detroit come April.

While Florida was penciled in at No. 1 the last several weeks, Duke earning the No. 2 spot was also expected. The Blue Devils return Dame Sarr, Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II from last year’s team that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. In addition to those returners, Duke welcomes in a star-studded high school recruiting class headlined by big man Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje — the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2028 NBA Draft — and Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who earned preseason second-team All-American honors by CBS Sports.

Illinois opens the season ranked No. 3. The Fighting Illini reached the Final Four for the first time since 2005 and will be led by preseason first-team All-American forward David Mirković. UConn — the team that ended Illinois’ season  (UConn) in Indianapolis earlier this spring— debuts at No. 4 in the poll.

Florida, Duke and Illinois were the lone teams to receive first-place votes in the poll.

Preseason AP Top 25 

1. Florida (47) 
2. Duke (10) 
3. Illinois (2) 
4. UConn 
5. Arizona 
6. Michigan State 
7. Texas 
8. Tennessee 
9. Virginia 
10. Houston 
11. Louisville 
12. Arkansas 
13. St. John’s 
14. Miami (FL) 
15. Gonzaga 
16. Michigan 
17. Kansas 
18. Iowa State 
19. Texas Tech 
20. Alabama 
21. USC 
22. UCLA 
23. Kentucky 
24. Vanderbilt 
25. BYU

Others receiving votes: Missouri 167, Nebraska 70, Purdue 53, Ohio State 39, North Carolina 20, TCU 17, Saint Louis 13, VCU 12, Iowa 12, Virginia Tech 10, Indiana 8, Texas A&M 6, Villanova 6, Auburn 4, Marquette 3, Nevada 2, Grand Canyon 2, Utah State 2, Santa Clara 1.

Florida is the consensus No. 1

Last season, there was some debate on who would occupy the top spot in the poll. Purdue opened the season ranked No. 1 in 2025-26 but received only 35 first-place votes. Houston (16), Florida (8) and UConn (2) all received at least one first-place vote.  Ahead of the 2026-27 season, AP voters are more aligned on who is the top team in college basketball. Only three teams received first-place votes, with Duke and Illinois combining to receive 12 of them. Florida received 47 first-place votes, which is high for the season’s first poll. 

The Gators will be tested early and often this season. On opening night, Florida has a date with in-state foe Miami (ranked No. 14) in Tampa to open the 2026-27 season. That game will be a major measuring stick for both programs.

Kansas and Texas Tech ranked in the teens due to roster questions

On paper, Kansas and Texas Tech have very good rosters that you could argue are both top 10 in the sport. However, voters appear to be taking a cautious approach, with both teams ahead of this season due to each having three players in eligibility limbo. For Texas Tech, that would be Donovan Atwell, Darrion Williams and Jamichael Stillwell. As for Kansas, Trey Kaufman-Renn, who signed with the program hours before the first poll of the season was announced, is looking to become eligible alongside Tre White and Melvin Council Jr.

Those are the two teams, plus Houston, that are expected to challenge Arizona for the Big 12 titles this season.

Reigning champs open at No. 16

After putting together one of the most dominant NCAA Tournament runs of the modern era earlier this year, Michigan will open the season ranked No. 16. The Wolverines are in the midst of massive turnover after saying goodbye to four starters and head coach Dusty May from their national title team. In addition to those departures, five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr. — who was expected to start and play a significant role for Michigan this season — won’t play after suffering a torn ACL earlier this summer.

Preseason All-American guard Elliot Cadeau is the lone starter from Michigan’s title team returning, but the outlook could change if Roddy Gayle Jr. — a key reserve from last year’s squad — is granted a fifth year. Trey McKenney, another key reserve from last season’s title team, should be one of the top breakout candidates in college basketball to monitor who could make Michigan a contender.