The men’s college basketball season has passed the midway point of the 2025-26 schedule, and the top programs around the country are showing what makes them better than the rest. So who are the best of the best in the game right now?
We look to answer that question with our new men’s college basketball rankings, showcasing the top 25 teams as of Jan. 15, 2026.
25. Tennessee (LW: 23)
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is proving why he is a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. He is second on the team in points (15.4) and rebounds (6.4) per game. The combo of him and senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie is why the Vols kicked off the season by winning their first seven games.
However, they have hit another bump recently. Losing two of three, including to conference rivals Florida.
24. Seton Hall (UR)
After an awful 7-25 finish last season, Shaheen Holloway has Seton Hall looking like the team that won 25 games a couple of years ago. A major reason for their strong 14-3 record is an outstanding defense that is giving up just 63.1 points a game — sixth best in the country.
The Pirates are getting really good play from a trio of veteran guards, including AJ Staton-McCray, who is posting 11.6 points and 3.4 boards a night.
23. Clemson (UR)
Brad Bromwell is in the best groove of his 16-year stint leading Clemson. The Tigers basketball program is on pace to win 23 or more games for a fourth straight year due to some really nice play from forwards Carter Welling and RJ Godfrey.
The duo is combining for over 20 points and 10 boards a night for Clemson. They are a big part of their rock-solid 15-3 record heading into the weekend.
22. Utah State (UR)
Despite three different coaches from 2022 to 2025, Utah State continues to show they are a program that is not just on the rise but is here to stay. After three straight seasons with 26 or more wins, Jerrod Calhoun’s team is on pace to do it again in 2026.
While the Aggies lack a meaningful win against a ranked team, their 15-1 record in the Mountain West is hard to deny, which is why they enter our college basketball rankings this week.
21. Louisville (LW: 20)
Louisville owns a rock-solid 12-5 record due to the strong play of its trio of talented guards. Mikel Brown Jr. is getting a lot of buzz about being a top 10 pick in next year’s NBA Draft, senior Ryan Conwell has been just as good, and Cardinals veteran Isaac McKneely is as reliable as ever.
Because of the trio, they are a problem to defend each night, and it showed in wins over Kentucky and Indiana this season. However, they have hit a major slump recently. Losing three of their last four, including to Virginia.
20. Georgia (LW: 18)
Since arriving in 2022, coach Michael White has helped return Georgia’s basketball program to being a force in the SEC, and the Bulldogs’ strong 14-3 start is the evidence. Their spot in the top 25 is thanks in part to the backcourt duo of Jeremiah Wilkinson (17.8 points) and Blue Cain (14.1 points).
The pair leads a Georgia offense that is the No. 1 scoring team in the nation (96.4 PPG). Yet, for as good as their offense is, it wasn’t enough to avoid losing two of their last three, including to Florida.
19. Alabama (LW: 16)
Alabama can be a problem for every team in the nation on any night. The Crimson Tide has a top-five offense (93.7 PPG) led by NBA lottery prospect Labaron Philon Jr., who leads the team in scoring with 21.9 PPG.
Yet, despite their offensive firepower, they have struggled against ranked teams in 2025-26. Losing four games against teams in the top 25, as well as a surprising setback to an unranked Texas team, recently. It’s why they land in the back half of our new college basketball rankings.
18. Florida (UR)
The first couple of months of the season for defending champs Florida were tough. At one point, they lost four of their first nine games. However, since back-to-back defeats to Duke and UConn, the Gators have gotten some momentum. Going 7-1 and posting two wins over ranked programs, including Georgia.
Juniors Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh have played well with expanded roles this season and account for over 30 points and 15 boards for Florida each night.
17. Virginia (LW: 19)
Head coach Ryan Odom had a rough start in his first year overseeing Virginia. However, year two has gotten off to an impressive 15-2 start, thanks to the strong play of Belgian big man Thijs de Ridder.
The freshman forward is posting 16.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in his debut season. This rock-solid group is one to watch in the ACC this season.
16. Arkansas (LW: 17)
Arkansas is going with a pair of freshmen in the backcourt in 2025-26, and so far, the duo of Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. has been pretty good. Accounting for over 35 points a night for the Razorbacks.
In year two with legendary head coach John Calipari, Arkansas is a dangerous team. And their wins over three ranked teams are proof of that. However, the 13-4 team’s recent loss to Auburn shows how inconsistent they can be from week to week.
15. Texas Tech (LW: 13)
Texas Tech has progressed during Grant McCasland’s first two seasons overseeing the Red Raiders program. If the impressive scoring duo of JT Toppin and Christian Anderson can continue to play like they already have — they account for 40 points a night — Tech will be a tough out all year in the Big 12.
They have a lot to prove nationally, after losing to four ranked teams, including by 30 to Purdue. However, their huge upset win over Duke proves the Red Raiders can’t be overlooked.
14. Illinois (LW: 14)
Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a top program in the Big Ten since arriving in 2020. Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic (13.9 PPG) has immediately become one of the team’s top scorers. However, senior Kylan Boswell and freshman backcourt mate Keaton Wagler are a formidable duo.
The pair of guards is posting close to 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists a night for the 14-3 Fighting Illini.
13. North Carolina (LW: 15)
Hubert Davis’ North Carolina team is off to a strong start due to the outstanding performance of future lottery pick and freshman Caleb Wilson. The Atlanta native leads the Tar Heels in points (19.9), rebounds (10.9), and steals (1.5). However, he is also getting big support from veterans Henri Veesaar (17.4 points and 10.9 rebounds) and Seth Trimble (15.4 points).
While the Tar Heels owna couple of surprise losses this season, a pair of wins over ranked teams is why they get a spot in our latest college basketball rankings.
12. Michigan State (LW: 12)
Legendary coach Tom Izzo has another very good Michigan State team on his hands in 2026. While they can score buckets, the Spartans have proven to be a handful for opponents because of a sound defense that is giving up 64.2 PPG.
There is no better proof of their potential than owning victories over three ranked teams, including North Carolina, this season. However, their setbacks against Duke and Nebraska show they have a ceiling right now.
11. BYU (LW: 9)
BYU is a dark-horse title contender in 2026 because of future NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa (23.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists a night). However, the Cougars also have a very good backcourt combination in Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III, who are averaging close to 40 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Although they suffered an early-season loss to UConn, the Cougars have looked very good ever since and currently own a 13-game win streak.
10. Vanderbilt (LW: 11)
Vanderbilt’s backcourt duo of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles leads a Commodores offense that is scoring 91.3 PPG, which is tenth best in the nation. It’s why the team is off to one of their best starts in program history at 16-1.
For much of the season, they lacked a marquee victory over a ranked team. However, they got that recently when they scored a big home win over Alabama. But a surprising upset loss to Texas is why they slip in our new top 25.
9. Nebraska (LW: 10)
Fred Hoiberg has his best team yet at Nebraska. The school heads into the weekend with a 17-0 record and is led by former Bradley recruit Rienk Mast. The Dutch senior is second on his team in points (15.4 PG) and leads in rebounds (6.4). But he is also getting a lot of help from junior Pryce Sandfort, who leads the team in scoring (16.4 PPG).
For much of the season, experts knew Nebraska was good, but they lacked undeniable evidence. However, they have gotten it in recent weeks when the Cornhuskers scored big wins over Illinois and Michigan State.
8. Houston (LW: 8)
Kelvin Sampson’s Houston squad is again among the top teams in the nation. Senior Emanuel Sharp (15.9 PPG) has been as important as ever. However, if they make another deep run in March, it will be because of the continued growth of freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr.
Yet, the main reason the Cougars head into the weekend with a 16-1 record is a formidable defense that is giving up just 59.3 points a game — which is No. 1 in the nation.
7. Purdue (LW: 7)
Purdue was once the No. 1 team in the nation because they have something most ranked schools lack: Top players with a boatload of experience. Seniors Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn are starring for the Boilermakers in 2025-26 and are combining for close to 30 points a night.
While their blowout loss to Iowa State earlier in the season was a major setback, the duo and the rest of the team’s ability to use their veteran savvy is why they still own a 16-1 record and have Ws against three ranked programs, including Alabama.
6. Gonzaga (LW: 6)
Mark Few’s Gonzaga squad is off to an impressive 18-1 start because of what their veteran front court of Braden Huff and Graham Ike gives them each night. The duo is posting close to 40 points and 15 boards a game for the Bulldogs.
Their 40-point loss to Michigan made many question how good this team could be. However, they have rallied since with an offense that is posting 91.2 points a night (11th best in the nation) and holds wins over four ranked teams this year.
5. Michigan (LW: 2)
After 16 games, Michigan is showing that head coach Dusty May has an offensive powerhouse on his hands in his second season overseeing the program. While former UAB star Yaxel Lendeborg is getting a lot of attention for being the tip of their scoring spear (14.6 PPG), the Wolverines’ front line, in general, is arguably the best in the nation.
There is no better proof of how dangerous their top three offense is then dropping over 100 points in big wins over Auburn and Gonzaga.
4. Duke (LW: 5)
Duke is off to a vintage Blue Devils start because of the outstanding play of super prospect Cameron Boozer. The freshman, who had to step in for another super prospect, Cooper Flagg, leads the team in points (22.8), rebounds (9.7), assists (4.1), and steals (1.7).
Beyond the superb play of the future lottery pick, Duke is also getting important minutes from sophomores Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba. They are part of why Duke has wins over six top 25 teams, including Michigan State and Louisville.
3. Iowa State (LW: 3)
In his final season at Iowa State, Joshua Jefferson is getting the attention of NBA Draft evaluators. The Las Vegas native is first on the team in points (17.4), rebounds (7.8), and second in assists (4.9). Furthermore, the Cyclones have gotten very good play from fellow senior Tamin Lipsey and forward Milan Momcilovic.
It’s why they have gotten off to an impressive 16-1 start to their campaign, and own a destructive victory over former No. 1 Purdue. However, a stunning blowout loss to Kansas is why they fall in our new college basketball rankings.
2. UConn (LW: 4)
What a surprise. It’s another season in college basketball, and UConn is among the elite teams in the nation. Although they took a bit of a step back last season, they retooled with stud recruit Braylon Mullins and look primed for another deep run in March.
Senior big man Taris Reed Jr. has been great (14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds), as well as junior guard Solo Ball (14.4 PPG). However, in 2026, their top-10 defense is leading the way and is giving up just 63.3 points a night.
1. Arizona (LW: 1)
Arizona has been the cream of the crop in college basketball for much of the 2025-26 season. Led by senior Jaden Bradley (13.5 points and 4.5 assists) and big-time NBA prospect Koa Peat (15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds), the Wildcats have already posted wins over five top 25 teams, including UCLA and UConn.
They have five players averaging 10 or more points a game, and it’s why they are among the best scoring teams in the nation, scoring 91.0 points a night.
