The 2025-26 college basketball season is underway, and the top programs around the country are starting to separate themselves from the pack. So who are the best of the best in the sport right now? We look to answer that question with our updated men's college basketball rankings, showcasing the top 25 teams heading into the 205 edition of "Feast Week."
RIch Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In year one for new head coach Darian DeVries, Indiana has looked good and warrants a spot in our latest top 25. While they haven't beaten any world beaters, senior Lamar Wilkerson and the coach's son Tucker DeVries lead a balanced group that is off to a 5-0 start and sits atop the Big Ten.
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Vanderbilt's backcourt duo of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles has gotten off to a really good start to the new season, and they are leading a Commodores offense (103 PPG) that is No. 1 in he nation heading into Feast Week. While they haven't faced stiff competition, you can't deny a team that is scoring well over 100 points a game nightly.
Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Senior Keyshawn Hall is making a statement early in the new season for Auburn . He is averaging a double-double (22 points and 10 boards) and has spearheaded a 5-1 Tigers team. While they came up short against Houston this season, it was a close game that showed the SEC's top team is sure to move up our college basketball rankings in the weeks ahead.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
A major reason why NC State has had a 4-1 start, currently leads the ACC, and is a top 10 scoring team (95.5 PPG) is the outstanding play of Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams . Heading into Feast Week, he is posting 21 points and 6 boards for a Wolfpack team having a notable bounce back campaign under new head coach Will Wade following a 12-19 season in 2024-25.
Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Arkansas is going with a pair of freshmen in the backcourt in 2025-26, and so far, the duo of Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. has been pretty good, as they combine for close to 40 points per game. In year two with legendary head coach John Calipari, the Razorbacks are a team to keep an eye on, especially if they can score an upset over Duke in their next game.
Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Texas Tech has progressed yearly over Grant McCasland's first two seasons overseeing the Red Raiders program. Meaning 2025-26 has a lot of potential and could see the team win 30 games for the first time in 30 years. If the impressive duo of JT Toppin and Christian Anderson can continue to play like they already have this season, Texas Tech can be a problem in the Big 12.
However, early-season losses to Illinois and Purdue show they are not a threat to Houston or Arizona yet.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
After a big leap forward last season, big things are expected from St. John's and iconic head coach Nick Pitino in 2025-26. The senior front-court duo of Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins is formidable, which is why the Johnnies will be a tough matchup in the Big East. However, losses to ranked programs Alabama and Iowa State are not a good sign for their championship potential this season.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Mark Pope has a deep and talented Kentucky roster, but they are still missing a key part of it with Jayden Quaintance expected to be out for a lot of the 2025-26 season. Against lower-tier teams, they have looked impressive. However, a pair of decisive losses to top 25 teams, Louisville and Michigan State, may be evidence that this group has a clear ceiling this season.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
While UCLA struggles on the gridiron, Mick Cronin has had good teams for all but one of his seven seasons overseeing the program. That is again the case in 2025-26 as the Bruins' roster is deep, experienced, and showed their potential in a competitive clash with a talented Arizona team. It was the one game where the Big Ten team met serious resistance and didn't score a dominant win.
Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In his final season at Iowa State , Tamin Lipsey is off to a strong start. The home state great leads the team in points (18), assists (5), and steals (3). Furthermore, the Cyclones have gotten good play from the front-court duo of Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic. It's why they started the year 5-0 and scored a nice win over St. John's this season.
Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is proving why he is a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. He is second on the team in points (19) and leads in rebounds (7) per game. The combo of him and senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie is why the Vols sit atop the SEC heading into Feast Week.
Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
Hubert Davis' North Carolina team is off to a red-hot start in large part due to the strong play of freshman Caleb Wilson. The Atlanta native leads the Tar Heels in points (20), rebounds (10), and steals (2) after the first few weeks of the season. However, he is also getting big support from veterans Henri Veesaar and Seth Trimble. It is why UNC looks like a real threat to Duke this season.
Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a top program every season in the Big Ten, and nothing is changing in 2025-26. Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic has immediately become the team's leading scorer. But the player that makes this Illinois team more dangerous than recent seasons is talented freshman David Mirkovic. The big man is averaging an impressive 15 points and 10 boards a night.
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Following a tough loss to Arizona to open the year, defending champions Florida has rebounded and started to get on a roll in recent games. Juniors Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh have been asked to carry a bigger load from the start in 2025-26, and the pair of veteran forwards have shown they are up to the task by putting up career-best numbers to begin their campaign.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Alabama set up a tough schedule for itself to begin the season, and it has navigated facing four top 10 teams by splitting those matchups. Their two losses came against an elite Purdue and a strong Gonzaga squad, so there is no shame in that. They are a talented team led by NBA lottery prospect Labaron Philon Jr., who has looked very good to begin the season.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Mark Few's Gonzaga squad is off to a fast start to the season due to high-level play from their veteran front court of Braden Huff and Graham Ike . The Bulldogs have a lot more experience than most teams, and it has shown in their 6-0 start. After beating Alabama, a victory over Kentucky next month could have the Zags flirting with a top-five spot.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Legendary coach Tom Izzo unsurprisingly looks to have another good Michigan State team on his hands in 2025-26. They have a deep squad that has proven to be a handful for opponents this season. There is no better proof of their potential than scoring a pair of big wins over ranked teams already this season, including over Kentucky. Sophomore Jeremy Fears Jr. has been impressive as the leader of their offense and leads the country in assists (10 per game).
Rob Gray-Imagn Images
BYU is seen as a real title contender this season because of the talents of future NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa. However, the Cougars also have a very good backcourt combo in Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III, who are putting up nearly 40 points per night. The Cougars will likely be in the top 10 all season because of their trio of gifted stars.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
To begin the new season, Michigan is showing they are again a team to keep an eye on in the Big Ten for year two under head coach Dusty May. A major reason is the addition of Yaxel Lendeborg in the transfer portal. He will get a lot of attention, but the Wolverines' front line in general is, arguably, the best in the nation and a major reason why they land in our top 10.
Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Louisville has gotten off to an unbeaten start this season due to the strong play of its trio of talented guards. Mikel Brown Jr. is getting a lot of buzz about being a top 10 pick in next year's NBA Draft. However, senior Ryan Conwell has been just as good, and fellow Cardinals veteran Isaac McKneely is as reliable as ever. These three make them tough to match up with every night, and there is no better proof than scoring an early-season win over a top-10 Kentucky team.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
What a surprise. It's another season in college basketball, and UConn is among the elite teams in the nation. While they took a bit of a step back last season, they are primed for another deep run in March.
Senior big man Taris Reed Jr. has been great, as well as front-court partner Alex Karaban . What is so fascinating about the Huskies is that they have been this good already and haven't even gotten star freshman Braylon Mullins on the court yet this year. One can only wonder how different their game against Arizona would have been if they had him.
Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kelvin Sampson and his Houston team are again one of the very best teams in the nation to begin the new season. Senior Emmanuel Sharp has been as important as ever and is leading the way in scoring. However, they have serious potential to get back to the championship game in March if freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. can continue to develop into the elite talents many believe they are.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Duke is off to another classic Blue Devils start in 2025-26 because of the outstanding play of super prospect Cameron Boozer . The freshman, who had to take over for another super prospect in Cooper Flagg , leads the team in points (21), rebounds (9), assists (4), and blocks (1).
Duke will go as far as Boozer takes them, and he already has them in the top five of our college basketball rankings.
Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Purdue is ranked among the top teams in the nation to begin the 2025-26 season because it has something most top 25 teams lack: Top players with a boatload of experience. Seniors Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn are off to very nice starts.
Their ability to use their veteran savvy to outwit opponents will make them a problem all season long. That has already become apparent in big early-season wins over top 15 squads Alabama and Texas Tech.
Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
Arizona looks set to have a serious run at a championship next March. Led by star senior and Jaden Bradley and big-time NBA prospect and freshman Koat Peat, the Wildcats have already posted wins over three top 15 teams to begin the year, including UConn. Arizona is showing why there is so much hype around them this season, and the Big 12 has a two-headed monster in Arizona and Houston.
Related Headlines
