Men’s college basketball rankings: Preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, AP Top 25

The march toward the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season reached a milestone on Monday, Oct. 19, with the reveal of both the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll preseason Top 25 along with the rankings from The Associated Press.

Both the Coaches Poll and AP voters selected Todd Golden’s Florida team as the preseason No. 1 team in the country. The Gators return one of the most talented rosters in the country, including return a talented nucleus of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, as they seek a second national title over the last three seasons.

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From there, the voters do have a few small differences in their voting, though the polls do feature the same top-10 teams (different ordering notwithstanding). The coaches poll, for example, has Tommy Lloyd-led Arizona over Dan Hurley and No. 5 Connecticut, for example, whereas the AP flips the two teams.

Defending national champion Michigan, entering a new era without Dusty May at the helm, ranks No. 20 and No. 16 in the coaches and AP polls, respectively. Can Mike Boynton Jr. lead the Wolverines back to a Big Ten Conference title and deep run in the men’s NCAA Tournament?

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Voters were not as kind to another traditional power with a new head coach, as North Carolina finished unranked in both preseason polls (but did receive votes in each).

With that, here’s a look at the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 — as well as how they differ:

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Men’s college basketball preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026-27

25 — Brigham Young Cougars (23-12 in 2025-26, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament)

(William Purnell, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)

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Men’s college basketball preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026-27

25 — Brigham Young Cougars (23-12 in 2025-26, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament)

(William Purnell, Imagn Images via…


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Publish date : 2026-10-19 19:55:00

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