Jay Bilas Reveals Top 68 College Basketball Rankings for 2025-26 Season
Following a turbulent offseason marked by coaching shifts and Transfer Portal buzz, the 2025-26 college basketball season officially began Monday night. Basketball excitement is back with high anticipation surrounding several storylines.
Season Storylines to Watch
- Can Florida become the first program to win back-to-back National Championships?
- Will Kelvin Sampson lead Houston to its inaugural National Championship?
- Can Duke recover from last season’s Final Four disappointment to capture the first title under Jon Scheyer?
Jay Bilas’ Top Team: Purdue
Just one game into the season, ESPN’s Jay Bilas ranked Purdue as the leading college basketball team. Head coach Matt Painter begins his 21st season, supported by standout players including point guard Braden Smith, sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer, skilled big man Trey Kaufman-Renn, and South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff.
The Boilermakers have strengthened their roster aiming to reach the National Championship Game for the second time in three years. They started the season with a commanding 82-51 victory over Evansville on Tuesday. Fletcher Loyer stood out, scoring 30 points with an impressive 7-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Purdue has one more preparatory game against Oakland before heading to Tuscaloosa for a rematch against a ranked opponent, rekindling their previous season’s 87-78 win over the same non-conference foe.
"The Boilermakers have loaded up in their quest to return to the National Championship Game for the second time in three seasons."
Summary: As the 2025-26 college basketball season commences, Purdue stands out as the top-ranked team, poised to challenge for a national title amid widespread excitement about key program quests and rivalries.