Jay Bilas Unveils Top 68 College Basketball Rankings for 2025-26 Season
After an eventful offseason marked by coaching changes and Transfer Portal activity, the 2025-26 college basketball season officially began Monday night. Basketball is back with thrilling storylines.
Key Questions for the Season
- Can Florida repeat as National Champions, becoming the second program to do so consecutively?
- Will Kelvin Sampson lead Houston to its first-ever National Championship?
- Can Duke overcome last season’s Final Four disappointment and claim the first title under Jon Scheyer?
Jay Bilas’ Top Team: Purdue
Just one game into the season, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas ranked Purdue as the best team in college basketball. The Boilermakers, led by Coach Matt Painter in his 21st season, feature star point guard Braden Smith, sharp shooter Fletcher Loyer, skilled big man Trey Kaufman-Renn, and South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff.
Purdue aims to return to the National Championship Game for the second time in three seasons. They opened the season with an impressive 82-51 victory over Evansville, with Loyer scoring 30 points, hitting 7-of-10 from three-point range.
The Boilermakers have a tune-up game against Oakland before traveling to Tuscaloosa to face No. 1, a rematch of last year’s 87-78 victory over the non-conference opponent.
"Basketball is officially back. The storylines this season are off the charts."
"They opened the regular season with a dominant 82-51 win over Evansville."
Author’s summary: The 2025-26 college basketball season returns with high stakes, featuring Purdue as the top-ranked team poised for a national title run amid intense competition and compelling storylines.