Jay Bilas unveils Top 68 college basketball rankings as 2025-26 season starts
After a hectic offseason filled with coaching moves and Transfer Portal activity, the 2025–26 college basketball season officially began Monday night. Fans can finally say basketball is back, and the storylines headline an exciting new campaign.
Major Questions Heading Into the Season
- Can Florida become the second straight team to win back-to-back National Championships?
- Will Kelvin Sampson finally guide Houston to its first NCAA title?
- Can Duke redeem its Final Four collapse and secure the first championship of the Jon Scheyer era?
Jay Bilas’ Top Teams for 2025-26
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas released his rankings of the top 68 programs in college basketball after opening night. Purdue leads the list, entering the season as the top-ranked team.
Purdue’s Strong Start
Led by head coach Matt Painter in his 21st year, Purdue returns a stacked roster that includes point guard Braden Smith, shooting guard Fletcher Loyer, forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, and South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff. The Boilermakers are aiming for another run at the National Championship Game, having reached it two of the last three seasons.
“Purdue opens the season tabbed as the best team in college basketball by Jay Bilas.”
Purdue kicked off the regular season with a commanding 82–51 victory over Evansville on Tuesday. Loyer shined, scoring 30 points and hitting 7 of 10 from beyond the arc. The team will face Oakland before traveling to Tuscaloosa for a rematch of last year’s non-conference battle, which Purdue previously won 87–78.
Author’s Summary
Jay Bilas ranks Purdue at the top of his preseason list as the 2025–26 college basketball season begins, spotlighting a roster built for another championship run.