Jay Bilas Unveils Top 68 College Basketball Rankings as 2025-26 Season Starts
After a turbulent offseason marked by coaching changes and Transfer Portal activity, the 2025-26 college basketball season officially began Monday night. Basketball is back with intense storylines shaping the season.
Season Storylines to Watch
- Can Florida become the second consecutive program to defend its National Championship?
- Will Kelvin Sampson overcome previous barriers and deliver Houston its first-ever National Championship?
- Can Duke redeem last season’s Final Four disappointment and bring home the first title of the Jon Scheyer era?
Jay Bilas’ Top Team Pick
Just one game into the season, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas ranked his top 68 college basketball teams. Purdue was named the best team in the country.
Head coach Matt Painter returns for his 21st season leading the Boilermakers. Key players include star point guard Braden Smith, sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer, versatile big man Trey Kaufman-Renn, and transfer Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State. Purdue has strengthened its roster for another run at the National Championship Game, reaching it twice in the last three seasons.
Season Opener Performance
The Boilermakers began their campaign with a commanding 82-51 victory over Evansville on Tuesday. Fletcher Loyer led scoring with 30 points, hitting 7-of-10 three-point attempts.
Purdue has one final tune-up game against Oakland before heading to Tuscaloosa for a high-profile rematch against a top-ranked opponent. This will revisit last year’s non-conference meeting, which Purdue won 87-78.
“Basketball is officially back. The storylines this season are off the charts.” — Jay Bilas
Author’s summary: The 2025-26 college basketball season kicks off with Purdue ranked No. 1 amidst fierce competition and thrilling storylines shaping the race for the national title.