The 2025-26 preseason men’s college basketball AP Top 25 poll results are out!
Purdue will tip off the season at No. 1 for the first time. Reigning national champion Florida (No. 3) and national runner-up Houston (No. 2) were also in the mix. Can either the Gators or the Cougars return to the NCAA title game on April 6 in Indianapolis?
The Top 25 features blue bloods 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 deals 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)