As the 2025–26 college basketball season unfolds, it’s already clear that this season will live up to the hype, defined by elite teams making statements, transfers showing why they commanded so much money in the offseason, and Feast Week turning into a chance for contenders to prove their strength against tough competition.
A handful of teams have leapt to the front of the pack, while others have shown flashes of promise, and a few are still finding their footing. The Purdue Boilermakers opened the year as the No.1 team in the preseason AP poll for the first time ever. Their top guard, Braden Smith, is widely considered the best point guard in the country. He entered the season as the favorite for National Player of the Year after a stellar season last year (averaging 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game).
Purdue’s frontcourt also remains strong with returning forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, a powerful inside presence who averaged over 20 points per game last season. Add in supporting players like Fletcher Loyer and fresh face Oscar Cluff, and the Boilermakers look like a complete team: experienced, deep, and balanced. They secured a monstrous win over Alabama earlier in the season, highlighted by a 29 point night from Smith.
“I love Purdue because my sister goes there and their basketball team is amazing. I think Braden Smith can lead them to a national championship this season,” said sophomore Lia Goldberg.
Down in the ACC, the Duke Blue Devils are showing why they’re always in the championship conversation. Their freshman star Cameron Boozer has been outstanding, already putting up multiple games with 25-plus points and 10-plus rebounds on great efficiency, a rare stat for a freshman and one that draws comparisons to legends from past decades. Meanwhile, Duke’s supporting cast, including shooters and veterans like sophomore Isaiah Evans and defensive star Maliq Brown, help them look dangerous enough to contend deep into March.
“The combination of Boozer’s scoring and rebounding with Evans’ shooting makes Duke nearly impossible to defend,” said sophomore Spencer Gordon.
But perhaps the biggest surprise so far has come from the Michigan Wolverines. During Feast Week, they dominated the Players Era Festival, rolling past tough opponents by an average margin of nearly 37 points per game. In the championship, they produced a 101–61 dismantling of the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a top transfer, led the Wolverines with a 20-point, 11-rebound night, earning tournament MVP. With that kind of dominance, Michigan has suddenly become a favorite in many fans’ minds for making a deep NCAA Tournament run.
“Lendeborg has been amazing this year, and he is why Michigan has been so good. He is good enough to lead the Wolverines to a championship,” said sophomore Luke Garfin.
On the east coast, the UConn Huskies have quietly put themselves in a position to be dangerous. In a notable win over the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse, their first ever win against Kansas, freshmen and supporting players stepped up big. Freshman Braylon Mullins scored seventeen points in just his second college game and looked unbelievably poised under pressure. Veteran leadership from guards like Solo Ball and balanced contributions from depth players helped UConn pull off the win in enemy territory. With that kind of resilience and depth, UConn could be a sleeper to go far if they stay healthy, especially if Dan Hurley is behind his team.
Meanwhile, the Louisville Cardinals have flown under the radar a bit, but they deserve attention. Their offense is explosive, led by freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr., a projected top pick in this upcoming NBA draft, who has shown experience beyond his years. The Cardinals’ backcourt is loaded with shooters and capable playmakers, which gives them a dangerous mixture of speed, scoring, and spacing. Many consider Louisville a serious dark horse if they can stabilize their defense and avoid early-season traps.
Of course, not every team and player has found their rhythm. A few programs and highly recruited players have looked shaky or inconsistent. Some transfers haven’t adapted as quickly as hoped, and certain freshmen seem to be searching for confidence and rhythm. For example, Xaivian Lee has struggled finding his footing in the SEC after making the move to Florida. Many people say he has had trouble adapting to SEC basketball coming from the Ivy League.
In a season so deep and competitive, even minor missteps can cost a team dearly. Feast Week, with its packed schedule of tournaments, neutral site games, and nationally televised matchups, quickly became a proving ground. Teams got a first taste of high-pressure environments, back-to-back games, travel, and tough competition. For squads like Michigan, UConn, and Purdue, Feast Week offered not just tests but opportunities, and several took them. It forced teams who thought they were ready to show just how ready they really were. It exposed weaknesses for others. And in doing so, it set the tone for the rest of the year.
As conference play approaches, we are beginning to see which teams might control March. Experienced squads combining veteran leadership with talented newcomers look the most dangerous and it’s clear that teams thriving on chemistry, depth, and consistency will likely go far. The talent across college basketball this year is so deep, with transfers, freshmen, and veterans all contributing, that it’s hard to pick a single clear-cut favorite. Still, if the first weeks are any indication, the strongest bets would be on Purdue, Michigan, Duke, UConn, and Louisville. But that doesn’t mean a surprise team won’t rise up.