Ap Top 25 Basketball
In short
Florida is ranked number one in the preseason AP Top 25 men's basketball poll for the 2026-27 season, followed by Duke and Illinois.
In plain words
This is a list of the best college basketball teams in America. Experts vote on which teams are the strongest before the season starts.
A simple example
In the current poll, Florida holds the top spot, while teams like Duke and Illinois are ranked immediately after them.
Why it matters
The rankings set the expectations for every team before they play their first game. They also influence how much attention and media coverage a school receives.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this with the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, which is a different set of rankings made by coaches rather than journalists.
Sources
- Men's college basketball rankings: Preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, AP Top 25
- One Michigan team makes SI's all-time top 25. It's not the Wolverines
- Purdue basketball’s 79-week AP Top 25 streak ends before the season begins
- Maryland men’s basketball faces daunting schedule with 7 preseason Top 25 opponents