AP Top 25 Basketball 2026: Florida No. 1 in Preseason Poll Ahead of Duke and Illinois

Florida is the No. 1 team in the 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25 men's basketball poll, released Monday, October 19, 2026, with Duke at No. 2 and Illinois at No. 3 also receiving first-place votes. The Gators, defending national champions, earned 42 of 61 first-place votes to top the poll for the first time in program history entering a season, according to the Associated Press.

The full 2026-27 preseason AP Top 25 is led by Florida, Duke, Illinois, Houston and Kentucky in the top five, with the SEC placing seven teams in the poll, the most of any conference. The 2026-27 season officially tips off on Monday, November 9, 2026, with the Champions Classic in Chicago.

Who is No. 1 in the 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25 basketball poll?

Florida is No. 1 in the 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25, earning 42 of 61 first-place votes and 1,509 total points. The Gators return All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. and forward Alex Condon from the team that won the 2026 national championship in Indianapolis, making them the first program to enter the following season at No. 1 since Kansas in 2023-24.

Duke received 12 first-place votes and 1,447 points to sit at No. 2, while Illinois collected the remaining seven first-place votes and 1,388 points at No. 3. Houston (No. 4) and Kentucky (No. 5) round out the top five.

What is the full 2026-27 AP Top 25 preseason ranking?

The full 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25 features Florida at No. 1, Duke at No. 2, Illinois at No. 3, Houston at No. 4 and Kentucky at No. 5. The complete poll, with first-place votes and total points, is below.

Which conferences are best represented in the 2026-27 preseason AP Top 25?

The SEC leads all conferences with seven teams in the 2026-27 preseason AP Top 25 (Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas A&M and one more), followed by the Big Ten with six and the Big 12 with five. The ACC has two teams (Duke, North Carolina), the Big East has three (UConn, St. John's, Villanova, Creighton), and the WCC (Gonzaga) and AAC (Memphis) each have one.

The SEC's seven ranked teams mark the fourth consecutive season the conference has led the AP preseason poll in representation, a run that began with its 2023-24 haul of eight teams. According to CBS Sports, the SEC has now produced the preseason No. 1 team in three of the last four seasons (Florida in 2026-27, Alabama in 2025-26 and Kentucky in 2024-25).

Why is Florida ranked No. 1 in the 2026-27 preseason poll?

Florida is ranked No. 1 because it returns the core of the team that won the 2026 national championship, including All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., forward Alex Condon and guard Alijah Martin. The Gators went 34-4 last season and defeated Houston 72-65 in the 2026 national title game in Indianapolis, giving coach Todd Golden his first championship.

Florida's 42 first-place votes are the most for a preseason No. 1 since North Carolina received 47 in 2023-24. The Gators open the 2026-27 season against Arizona State on November 9, 2026, in the opening game of the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago.

What are the biggest storylines in the 2026-27 AP Top 25?

The biggest storylines in the 2026-27 AP Top 25 are Florida's bid to repeat as national champion, Duke's reload under coach Jon Scheyer, and Illinois's rise to No. 3 behind All-American guard Kasparas Jakucionis. Other key storylines include Houston's post-Final Four rebuild, Kentucky's rebuilt roster under Mark Pope, and Gonzaga's final season in the WCC before joining the Pac-12 in 2027-28.

• Florida's repeat bid: The Gators are the first defending champion to open at No. 1 since Kansas in 2023-24, and the first SEC team to do so since Kentucky in 2014-15.
• Duke's reload: The Blue Devils lost Cooper Flagg to the NBA but return guard Caleb Foster and add five-star freshman Cameron Boozer, the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.
• Illinois's rise: The Fighting Illini earned their highest preseason ranking since 2005-06 (No. 3) behind Jakucionis and transfer forward Morez Johnson Jr.
• Houston's rebuild: The Cougars lost four starters from their 2026 Final Four team but remain in the top five for the fourth straight preseason.
• Gonzaga's farewell: The Bulldogs open at No. 7 in their final WCC season before the program moves to the rebuilt Pac-12 in 2027-28.

How does the 2026-27 preseason AP Top 25 compare to last season?

The 2026-27 preseason AP Top 25 features 17 teams that were ranked in the final 2025-26 poll, with eight new entrants including Illinois (No. 3), Texas Tech (No. 14) and Creighton (No. 25). Florida's rise from No. 3 in the final 2025-26 poll to No. 1 marks the largest jump to the top spot since Baylor went from No. 2 to No. 1 in 2021-22.

When does the 2026-27 college basketball season start?

The 2026-27 college basketball season starts on Monday, November 9, 2026, with the Champions Classic doubleheader at the United Center in Chicago. Florida faces Arizona State in the opener, followed by Duke vs. Kentucky in the nightcap.

Other marquee opening-week games include the Gavitt Tipoff Games (Big East vs. Big Ten) from November 10-12, the Hall of Fame Tip-Off from November 20-22, and the Maui Invitational from November 23-25. The 2027 NCAA Tournament begins with Selection Sunday on March 14, 2027, and the Final Four in Detroit from April 3-5, 2027.

What are the way-too-early predictions for the 2026-27 season?

The way-too-early consensus for 2026-27 favors Florida to repeat as national champion, with Duke, Illinois and Houston as the top challengers. According to ESPN's preseason BPI, Florida has a 22.4 percent chance to win the 2027 national title, the highest preseason mark since Gonzaga in 2020-21 (24.1 percent).

Duke (14.8 percent), Houston (11.2 percent) and Illinois (9.7 percent) round out the top four in ESPN's BPI title odds. The SEC is projected to produce the most NCAA Tournament bids (nine), followed by the Big Ten (eight) and the Big 12 (seven), according to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi's preseason field of 68.

"Florida is the clear No. 1, but the gap between the Gators and Duke is smaller than the vote totals suggest," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said on the network's preseason poll special. "Duke has the best incoming freshman class in the country, and Illinois has the best backcourt in the Big Ten."

How is the AP Top 25 poll conducted?

The AP Top 25 men's basketball poll is conducted weekly during the season by 61 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the country, who each submit a ballot ranking 25 teams. The poll is released every Monday during the regular season, with the preseason poll released in mid-October and the final poll released after the NCAA Tournament.

Voting is based on a 25-24-23...1 point system, with the No. 1 team on each ballot receiving 25 points. The AP has conducted the men's basketball poll since 1948-49, making it the longest-running college basketball ranking in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is No. 1 in the AP Top 25 basketball poll for 2026-27?

Florida is No. 1 in the 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25, receiving 42 of 61 first-place votes. Duke is No. 2 and Illinois is No. 3, with both also receiving first-place votes.

When was the 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25 released?

The 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25 was released on Monday, October 19, 2026. The first regular-season poll will be released on Monday, November 16, 2026, after the opening week of games.

How many first-place votes did Florida receive?

Florida received 42 of 61 first-place votes in the 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25. Duke received 12 and Illinois received seven, marking the first time since 2019-20 that three teams received first-place votes in the preseason poll.

Which conference has the most teams in the 2026-27 AP Top 25?

The SEC has the most teams in the 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25 with seven, followed by the Big Ten with six and the Big 12 with five. The ACC has two, the Big East has four, and the WCC and AAC each have one.

When does the 2026-27 college basketball season start?

The 2026-27 college basketball season starts on Monday, November 9, 2026, with the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago. Florida faces Arizona State and Duke faces Kentucky.

Is Florida the favorite to win the 2027 national championship?

Yes, Florida is the preseason favorite to win the 2027 national championship, with a 22.4 percent chance according to ESPN's BPI. Duke (14.8 percent), Houston (11.2 percent) and Illinois (9.7 percent) are the top challengers.