Men's College Basketball Rankings: Florida, Illinois Highlight Post-Portal Top 25

More than 2,500 players flooded the men's college basketball transfer portal this offseason, triggering a seismic shakeup across the sport.

But amid all the movement, programs like Florida, Duke and Illinois worked to retain key pieces. Now, with the portal closed and the NBA early-entry deadline in the rearview mirror, the picture for next season is finally coming into focus.

Who’s poised to rise, and who took a step back? Let’s get into it.

Here’s my updated way-too-early men’s college basketball rankings for next season:

25.

Purdue Boilermakers

Previous Ranking: 21

Gone are Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kauffman-Renn, who contributed more than 52% of the team's scoring this past season. C.J. Cox and Omer Mayer will be looked at to take a big step forward, while Princeton transfer Caden Pierce — the 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year — is expected to take over one of the starting spots in the frontcourt.

24.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Previous Ranking: NR

Despite losing the program’s all-time leading scorer, Bruce Thornton, to graduation, Jake Diebler should still field one of the most talented teams in the Big Ten next season. He’s bringing in a strong transfer class, highlighted by former Cal guard Justin Pippen, who is expected to join returner John Mobley Jr. in the starting backcourt. Diebler also landed five-star freshman Anthony Thompson, the highest-rated recruit to arrive in Columbus since Jared Sullinger in 2010. Losing forward Devin Royal will hurt, but rising sophomore Amare Bynum looks ready to take the next step.

23.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Pryce Sandfort of the Nebraska Cornhuskers dives for the ball against Iowa. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Previous Ranking: 17

Fresh off the most