playJeff BorzelloNov 12, 2026, 08:24 AM ETClose Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsWe’re only 10 days into the 2026-27 college basketball season, but there have already been seven matchups between ranked teams. That has led to plenty of movement for our first edition of Power Rankings.The biggest risers since our preseason rankings are Kansas and UCLA, both of which landed notable early-season wins.
The Jayhawks added former Purdue star Trey Kaufman-Renn and then blew out Kentucky at the Champions Classic in Chicago, while the Bruins knocked off Arizona on opening night and have a legitimate burgeoning star in freshman Nikola Kusturica.UConn and Michigan State are squarely in the top tier of national championship contenders after their stellar starts to the season, while Duke and Illinois aren’t going to be at their best until later in the season, with the Blue Devils adjusting to new go-to players and Illinois suffering multiple injuries.It also wouldn’t be the 2026-27 season without early ramifications following a summer of lawsuits. Arizona is still awaiting a decision on forward RJ Godfrey, while Kansas’ and Texas Tech’s big wins were keyed by players who suited up based on injunctions or temporary restraining orders.Next week highlights include the Players Era 8 tournament in Las Vegas and on-campus showdowns featuring Illinois at Duke, Michigan State at Tennessee and UConn at Arizona. More changes to the Power Rankings likely loom.1. Florida Gators (3-0)Preseason ranking: 1Recent results: W vs.
Miami 77-67 (Nov. 2); W vs. Jacksonville 88-57 (Nov. 5); W at Florida State 81-72 (Nov. 10)Upcoming games: vs. Merrimack (Nov. 13); vs. Notre Dame in Las Vegas (Nov. 17)What stands out about the Gators from the first three games of the season is how quickly Todd Golden has settled into an eight-man rotation.
His five starters as well as reserves Urban Klavzar, Domen Petrovic and Isaiah Brown combined for 199 of a possible 200 minutes in the season-opening win over Miami and all 200 minutes in Tuesday’s victory over Florida State. Some of the deeper bench players saw time in the blowout over Jacksonville, but it’s clear Golden has already decided on his rotation.2. UConn Huskies (3-0)Preseason ranking: 5Recent results: W vs. Gardner-Webb 86-46 (Nov. 2); W vs.
Michigan in Boston 85-77 (Nov. 6); W vs. Wagner 83-41 (Nov. 9)Upcoming games: vs. Ohio State (Nov. 13); at Arizona (Nov. 18)After UConn’s win over Michigan in Boston last week — a game in which Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins thoroughly outplayed counterparts Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney — Demary said he felt like he and Mullins were the best backcourt in the country. Ten days into the season, it’s hard to argue with the senior guard.
Fully healthy after struggling through an ankle injury during the NCAA tournament, Demary is averaging 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.7 steals this season. Mullins hit the 20-point mark in each of his first two games.3. Michigan State Spartans (3-0)Preseason ranking: 6Recent results: W vs. Quinnipiac 96-59 (Nov. 2); W vs.
Toledo 91-61 (Nov. 5); W vs. Duke in Chicago 79-73 (Nov. 10)Upcoming games: vs. Northern Iowa (Nov. 13); at Tennessee (Nov. 17)It was hard to come away from Michigan State’s Champions Classic triumph over Duke not thinking that sophomore forward Jordan Scott was the Spartans’ second-most important player. That the performance came after a game in which he scored just five points and shot 2-for-7 was telling.
Scott put on a defensive performance for the ages against Duke, posting nine defensive rebounds, blocking six shots and notching two steals. He single-handedly stifled the Duke offense in the first half. “He just really impacts winning,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said after the game.4. Kansas Jayhawks (3-0)Preseason ranking: 19Recent results: W vs.
Fordham 95-65 (Nov. 2); W vs. Middle Tennessee 89-45 (Nov. 6); W vs. Kentucky in Chicago 89-69 (Nov. 10)Upcoming games: vs. UNLV in Las Vegas (Nov. 17)Kansas was already going to move up significantly in the rankings because our preseason top 25 was released before the arrival of Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn.
Then came Tuesday’s 20-point demolition of Kentucky, a performance that suggested Bill Self might have his best team since the title-winning 2021-22 outfit, if everyone is eligible and healthy. The Champions Classic win was a clinic offensively, both in transition and in the half court, highlighted by 24 assists on 32 made baskets and a 22-0 edge in points off turnovers.5. UCLA Bruins (3-0)Preseason ranking: 24Recent results: W vs. Arizona 84-75 (Nov. 2); W vs.
North Florida 114-63 (Nov. 6); W vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff 106-37 (Nov. 11)Upcoming games: vs. Long Beach State (Nov. 16); vs. Cal State Fullerton (Nov. 18)Early signs point to Mick Cronin having his best team since the 31-win group of 2022-23, and perhaps the best offense of his career.
Serbian freshman Nikola Kusturica had an eye-opening, 29-point performance against North Florida, shooting 10-for-12 from the field. Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty has hit the ground running in Westwood, averaging 17 points and 4.3 assists through three games, shooting nearly 48% from 3. Those two have combined with returnees Trent Perry and Eric Dailey to form an attack that can beat teams in different ways while not sacrificing the toughness and defensive intensity Cronin demands.6. Duke Blue Devils (2-1)Preseason ranking: 2Recent results: W vs.
Army 84-50 (Nov. 2); W vs. Coastal Carolina 113-52 (Nov. 5); L vs. Michigan State in Chicago 79-73 (Nov. 10)Upcoming games: vs. SIUE (Nov. 13); vs.
Illinois (Nov. 17)The Blue Devils’ 79-73 loss to Michigan State was the first time since the 2023-24 season that they weren’t leading or within one possession in the final minute of a game. The Spartans — particularly Jeremy Fears Jr. — controlled the game from start to finish. Following the game, Jon Scheyer bemoaned his team’s poor pick-and-roll defense and inability to run efficient offense against Michigan State’s physical defense. The 26% the Blue Devils shot in the first half was the worst first-half shooting percentage of the Scheyer era, and Duke’s 41.9% 2-point shooting for the contest was the team’s worst since the 2025 Final Four loss to Houston.7.
Virginia Cavaliers (4-0)Preseason ranking: 13Recent results: W vs. Drexel 89-60 (Nov. 3); W vs. Northeastern 97-72 (Nov. 6); W vs. Arkansas 91-72 (Nov. 8); W vs.
Bucknell 95-61 (Nov. 10)Upcoming games: at Maryland (Nov. 13); vs. Old Dominion (Nov. 17)Entering the season, four of Virginia’s starting five were clearly locked into place. Thijs De Ridder, Sam Lewis and Johann Grunloh all returned from last year’s lineup, while point guard Chance Mallory was one of the best sixth men in the country last season. Nolan Adekunle, a Germany native, has grabbed the fifth spot and given coach Ryan Odom a perfect 3-and-D option with toughness and experience.
Over his past two games, Adekunle is averaging 13.5 points and shooting 6-for-11 from 3.8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0)Preseason ranking: 9Recent results: W vs. Jackson State 76-42 (Nov. 2); W vs. Bethune-Cookman 76-58 (Nov. 5); W vs.
Illinois 84-78 (Nov. 10)Upcoming games: vs. Stonehill (Nov. 14); vs. LSU New Orleans (Nov. 18)With all the attention surrounding JT Toppin’s injury status and the eligibility of Tech’s trio of five-for-five hopefuls, the Red Raiders’ incoming portal backcourt of Cruz Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn flew under the radar entering the season. After three games, it clearly shouldn’t have.
The two guards combined for 35 points and eight assists in the 84-78 win over Illinois on Tuesday, one game after totaling 40 points and five assists in a victory over Bethune-Cookman. That Tech was able to beat Illinois despite getting next to nothing offensively from Darrion Williams — the former All-Big 12 player is averaging 3.7 points and has
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