College Basketball (NCAAB) 2026
The 2025-26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season is ongoing, with the regular season starting on November 3, 2025, and the NCAA Tournament scheduled to begin on March 17, 2026, concluding with the national championship game on April 6, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get up to date information around the College Basketball season.
Early Projections and Rankings
Top Teams: Early projections from ESPN’s Bracketology (April and May 2025) highlight Purdue as the top overall seed, with UConn emerging as a No. 1 seed by February 2026, driven by the return of Alex Karaban. Other projected top seeds include teams like St. John’s, Creighton, and Houston, with Purdue’s consistent performance (never worse than a 5-seed since 2015-16) making them a favorite.
Purdue: Expected to lead the Big Ten, with a strong chance to end the conference’s national title drought since 2000, thanks to roster retention and player development under coach Matt Painter.
UConn: Despite failing to three-peat in 2025, the Huskies are projected as a top contender with Karaban’s return and a deep roster.
Big East: Posts on X and projections suggest a strong Big East, with UConn, St. John’s (led by Rick Pitino), Creighton, and Marquette ranked highly. St. John’s is projected to compete for the conference title, potentially reaching the Sweet 16 as a 5-seed.
Other Contenders: Houston, Duke, Alabama, Auburn, and Kansas are frequently mentioned in early odds and rankings, with Alabama and Kansas at +800 and +1000 odds to win the 2026 title, respectively.