Jay Bilas unveils Top 68 college basketball rankings as 2025-26 season starts

Jay Bilas Unveils Top 68 College Basketball Rankings as 2025-26 Season Begins

The 2025-26 college basketball season officially started Monday night after a turbulent offseason filled with coaching changes and Transfer Portal activity. Basketball is back with major storylines to watch.

Season Questions

Purdue Leads Preseason Rankings

After just one game, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas has ranked the top 68 teams, placing Purdue as the top contender. Head coach Matt Painter enters his 21st season, supported by star point guard Braden Smith, sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer, skilled big man Trey Kaufman-Renn, and transfer Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State.

The Boilermakers have strengthened their roster aiming for a return to the National Championship Game for the second time in three seasons. They began the season with a commanding 82-51 victory over Evansville, led by Loyer’s 30 points on 7-of-10 three-point shooting.

Purdue has one more preparatory game against Oakland before traveling to Tuscaloosa for a rematch against No. [ranking missing]. This will revisit last season’s non-conference duel, which Purdue won 87-78.

"Basketball is officially back. The storylines this season are off the charts."
"The Boilermakers have loaded up in their quest to return to the National Championship Game for the second time in three seasons."

Author's summary: The new college basketball season kicks off with high expectations and top rankings, led by Purdue's loaded roster aiming for a championship return.

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On3 On3 — 2025-11-07

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