The 2026-27 men’s college basketball season opens with a familiar face on top. Florida is the preseason AP No. 1, pulling 47 of 59 first-place votes, with Duke and Illinois rounding out a tightly packed top three. Here is the full poll, No. 1 to No. 25, plus what jumps out before the first tip on Monday, November 2.
The full 2026-27 preseason AP Top 25
| Rank | Team | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | SEC |
| 2 | Duke | ACC |
| 3 | Illinois | Big Ten |
| 4 | UConn | Big East |
| 5 | Arizona | Big 12 |
| 6 | Michigan State | Big Ten |
| 7 | Texas | SEC |
| 8 | Tennessee | SEC |
| 9 | Virginia | ACC |
| 10 | Houston | Big 12 |
| 11 | Louisville | ACC |
| 12 | Arkansas | SEC |
| 13 | St. John’s | Big East |
| 14 | Miami (FL) | ACC |
| 15 | Gonzaga | WCC |
| 16 | Michigan | Big Ten |
| 17 | Kansas | Big 12 |
| 18 | Iowa State | Big 12 |
| 19 | Texas Tech | Big 12 |
| 20 | Alabama | SEC |
| 21 | Southern California | Big Ten |
| 22 | UCLA | Big Ten |
| 23 | Kentucky | SEC |
| 24 | Vanderbilt | SEC |
| 25 | BYU | Big 12 |
Florida took 47 first-place votes to Duke’s 10 and Illinois’ two, so the top of the board is less settled than one runaway No. 1 might suggest.
Florida’s first No. 1 start since 2006
This is the first time Florida has opened a season atop the AP poll since 2006, the year the Gators began a run that ended with the 2007 national title. Coming off a strong 2025-26, Florida brings back enough to be the clear favorite, but the gap to Duke and Illinois is slim. The Blue Devils reload again under their usual blue-chip recruiting, and Illinois lands at No. 3 on the strength of a veteran, battle-tested core.
Conference power check
The SEC leads the way with seven ranked teams: Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The Big 12 is loaded too, with Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech and BYU all in the poll. The Big Ten counts five, headlined by No. 3 Illinois and No. 6 Michigan State, while the ACC leans on No. 2 Duke and No. 9 Virginia. Gonzaga, at No. 15, carries the mid-major banner once again.
Printable preseason Top 25
Keep the full poll handy as the season tips off. Download the one-page printable and track how every ranked team climbs or slides toward Selection Sunday.
Download the printable Preseason AP Top 25 (PDF)
More 2026-27 basketball on SportsBrackets
Several of these ranked teams tip off right away. See the full slate in our 2026-27 opening night TV guide, then explore every team’s full schedule in the Men’s College Basketball Schedule Hub. Conference fans can go straight to the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 printables.
