"The start of the 2025-26 men's college basketball season feels like years ago. Before it tipped off, we ranked 80 teams based on how we expected them to end the year, including whether they would be real factors in the NCAA tournament. Some of those projections held strong. UConn still looks like it could capture its third national title in four tries. Duke and Texas Tech have shaped into the Final Four contenders we forecasted them to be."
"Some of those projections held strong. UConn still looks like it could capture its third national title in four tries. Duke and Texas Tech have shaped into the Final Four contenders we forecasted them to be. And Nebraska has lived up to its billing as a comeback candidate, following up last season's 7-13 Big Ten run to run its first 20 games of this campaign. The Cornhuskers have a real chance to be the men's basketball version of Indiana football -- a turnaround champion."
Before the 2025-26 season, 80 teams were ranked by expected year-end outcomes and NCAA-tournament impact. Rankings have been updated and narrowed to 47 teams based on results through January. Arizona has spent seven straight weeks atop the AP Top 25 and has exceeded low preseason expectations. UConn, Michigan and Arizona occupy the top tier as national title favorites, while Duke and Texas Tech project as Final Four contenders. Vanderbilt opened 16-0 after being pegged for the bubble. Nebraska has become a prominent turnaround candidate after a poor Big Ten season a year ago. Rankings use tiers from title favorites to Cinderellas.
Read at ESPN.com
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