Jay Bilas unveils Top 68 college basketball rankings as 2025-26 season starts
After a chaotic offseason filled with coaching changes and Transfer Portal drama, the 2025-26 college basketball season tipped off Monday night. The game has returned, and this year’s storylines promise to be compelling.
- Can Florida become the second consecutive program to claim back-to-back national titles?
- Will Kelvin Sampson finally lead Houston to its first-ever national championship?
- Could Duke redeem last season’s Final Four disappointment and secure Jon Scheyer’s first title?
Jay Bilas’ Top 68 rankings
Just one game into the season, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas released his list of the top 68 teams in college basketball. Purdue earned the number one spot, entering as Bilas’ top-ranked team.
Purdue sets the tone
Head coach Matt Painter returns for his 21st season leading the Boilermakers. The roster features key veterans and fresh talent, including point guard Braden Smith, sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer, forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, and transfer center Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State.
“The Boilermakers have loaded up in their quest to return to the National Championship Game for the second time in three seasons.”
Purdue started the campaign with an emphatic 82–51 victory over Evansville on Tuesday. Loyer led all scorers with 30 points, hitting 7 of 10 shots from three-point range. The team will next face Oakland before traveling to Tuscaloosa for a rematch against Alabama, whom they defeated 87–78 last season.
Author’s Summary
Bilas crowns Purdue as the team to beat in 2025–26, spotlighting their depth and early dominance as the college basketball season begins with major storylines unfolding nationwide.