Men's College Basketball Rankings: Illinois, Duke Highlight Way-Too-Early Top 25

The confetti has barely settled on the Michigan Wolverines' 2026 national championship — they topped UConn, 69-63, in a thrilling Men's NCAA Tournament title game Monday night — but it's never too early to look ahead. Can't help it…

Both the Wolverines and the Huskies should come back strong next season, regardless of exactly how many players return or opt for the NBA Draft. They're both toward the top of my extra-early list — but not No. 1. 

Which players are expected to return, and who might be headed for the NBA or the transfer portal? Let's get into it.

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

VCU closed out the 2025-26 season with a bang, winning 15 of its last 16 games and notching a memorable upset win over North Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Losing Terrence Hill Jr. to the transfer portal hurts, but there are plenty of veterans returning to Phil Martelli Jr.'s team, which should make this group among the favorites in the A-10.

Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JT Toppin (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

What's next for Texas Tech's dynamic duo of Christian Anderson and JT Toppin? Both received All-American honors this past season, marking the first time the Red Raiders have had a pair of All-Americans in the same season. Both have massive decisions surrounding the upcoming NBA Draft. What they ultimately decide to do will dictate where Grant McCasland's team ranks as we get closer to next season.

Sean Miller's team was one of the surprise stories of this year's NCAA Tournament. As a No. 11 seed, Texas upset BYU and Gonzaga before falling to Purdue in the Sweet 16. The Longhorns will welcome the No. 12-ranked recruiting class in the