Boilermakers Take Preseason No. 1 in AP Top 25 — Purdue Ahead of Houston and Florida for First Time Ever

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the first time in program history, the Purdue Boilermakers have claimed the No. 1 spot in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll, setting high expectations as the 2025-26 season tips off.

The announcement came Monday, with Purdue receiving 35 of 61 first-place votes, edging out runner-up Houston, last year’s national finalist, and reigning champion Florida, which ranked third.

“It’s obviously exciting to get the season going,” said head coach Matt Painter, who enters his 21st season leading the Boilermakers. “Being ranked No. 1 in the preseason is a great indicator of what we feel this team can accomplish, but the goal is to be No. 1 at the end of the year. There’s a long way to go, and a lot of work to do to reach that goal in April.”

A Historic Milestone for Purdue

Purdue had previously reached as high as No. 2 in the preseason rankings during the 1987-88 season under Gene Keady, Painter’s former coach. Under Painter, who himself played for Keady, the program has steadily built national prominence, yet an NCAA championship has remained elusive.

The Boilermakers’ rise in the polls reflects a combination of returning talent and established leadership. Point guard Braden Smith, a first-team AP All-American, returns alongside scoring leader Trey Kaufman-Renn, who averaged 20.1 points last season, and veteran guard Fletcher Loyer. The trio provides a strong foundation for Painter’s team, which reached last year’s Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking loss to Houston on a last-second basket.

Houston and Florida Follow Closely

Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars secured 16 first-place votes, tying the program’s best-ever preseason AP ranking. Houston, last year’s NCAA runner-up, has cemented itself as a national powerhouse. The Cougars’ previous top preseason ranking came in the 1967-68 season, led by legendary forward Elvin Hayes.

Meanwhile, Todd Golden’s Florida Gators garnered eight first-place votes, starting the year with their highest preseason ranking since 2006-07, a year when they entered as reigning champions. Florida’s appearance in the top three underscores their ongoing dominance in college basketball following last year’s national title run.

Rounding out the top five were UConn at No. 4, receiving the remaining two first-place votes, and St. John’s at No. 5, whose position marks the Red Storm’s highest preseason ranking in decades under Rick Pitino.

Top 10 Highlights

The rest of the top 10 includes:
6. Duke
7. Michigan
8. BYU — powered by A.J. Dybantsa, the nation’s No. 1 recruit
9. Kentucky
10. Texas Tech

Several programs are also navigating transitions. Louisville, for instance, checked in at No. 11 after a remarkable turnaround under second-year coach Pat Kelsey, who inherited a team that had gone 12-52 over the prior two seasons. Louisville’s resurgence demonstrates the impact of strong coaching and recruiting, positioning them among the national elite once again.

Other second-year coaches appearing in the preseason poll include John Calipari at Arkansas, Michigan, BYU, and Kentucky, underscoring the influence of new leadership across the NCAA landscape.

Surprising Movements in the Poll

Some traditional powerhouses entered the season lower than expected. Kansas, ranked No. 19, marks the lowest preseason AP ranking for Bill Self’s Jayhawks since 2008-09, when they began the year at No. 24 as reigning champions. Kansas had been outside the top 10 only once since then, a testament to the program’s consistent national prominence.

Meanwhile, Auburn debuts at No. 20, entering a new era following the unexpected retirement of Bruce Pearl after last year’s Final Four appearance. His son, Steven Pearl, now 38, assumes head coaching duties, having spent the past 11 seasons on his father’s staff without prior head coaching experience elsewhere.

Conference Representation

The SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 dominated the preseason rankings, each placing six teams in the top 25, accounting for 72% of the field. The ACC and Big East each had three teams ranked, while the West Coast Conference saw Gonzaga at No. 21 as its sole representative. The Big 12 stood out with three top-10 teams, signaling a potentially fierce conference race this season.

Teams to Watch

While the top 25 is solidifying, several programs hover just outside the rankings. NC State, under first-year coach Will Wade, sits just behind 25th-ranked rival North Carolina in the ACC. Oregon, led by longtime coach Dana Altman, also lurks close to the poll, ready to challenge for inclusion as the season progresses.

Looking Ahead

As the 2025-26 college basketball season begins, Purdue’s preseason No. 1 ranking sets the stage for a campaign filled with expectations, storylines, and rivalries. The Boilermakers will look to translate their early acclaim into postseason success and, ultimately, their first NCAA championship under Painter’s tenure.

For fans nationwide, the season promises exciting matchups, standout player performances, and the potential for upsets — hallmarks of college basketball’s unique appeal. With teams like Houston, Florida, Duke, and Michigan pushing hard from the start, every game will matter in the race for March glory.

As Painter noted, “Being No. 1 in October is just the beginning. The real challenge begins on the court, one game at a time.”