AP Preseason Poll 2026-27: Florida Is a Runaway No. 1 in Men's College Basketball
The Gators earned a landslide of first-place votes, with Duke the only other team to get any real support.
The college basketball season has a clear favorite on paper. Florida is the No. 1 team in the AP preseason men's Top 25, which was released on October 19, with the Gators collecting 47 of 59 first-place votes.
The Top Five
- Florida
- Duke, which received 10 first-place votes
- Illinois
- UConn
- Arizona
Michigan State is No. 6. Seven SEC teams are in the poll, a number that mirrors the conference's strength on the football side, where nine SEC teams are ranked in the AP Top 25.
What To Watch
Preseason rankings are projections, not results, and a few weeks of games will test them quickly. Our preseason storylines piece covers the players and programs to follow, and our college football coverage tracks the other major poll.
For basketball at the next level, see how the NBA season opened, and learn the rules in our NBA rules explained guide.
Follow the season in our college basketball coverage.
More from ForTheFans
Background from Wikipedia
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in NCAA Division I's Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games are played on Billy Donovan Court in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville campus.
While the University of Florida's men's basketball team first took the court in 1915, the program did not receive much support from the university for several decades.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is No. 1 in the AP preseason men's basketball poll?
Florida opened at No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25, earning 47 of a possible 59 first-place votes.
Who is in the preseason AP top five?
Florida, Duke, Illinois, UConn and Arizona make up the top five, according to the list published after the poll was released on October 19, 2026. Michigan State is No. 6.
How many SEC teams are in the preseason poll?
Seven SEC teams are ranked in the preseason Top 25.
Sources & Official Resources
Rules, schedules and statistics in this article are checked against these official sources. See our editorial policy for how we fact-check.
Join the Conversation
Got a take? Share this story and tell us what you think. We read every reply.
Keep Reading
More to Explore
2010–11 Florida Gators men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Florida Gators men's basketball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of basketball during the 2010–11 college basketball season. The Gators competed in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Predictions and picks for the new season: Who will win? Who's under pressure?
The college hoops season is here. Who will win it all? Here's everything to know before games begin.
Florida Gators baseball
The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. Florida competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Duke beats out UNC, others for top-10 recruit Montgomery
Asa Montgomery has committed to Duke, giving the Blue Devils a top-10 prospect for the seventh straight recruiting class.
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Florida, located in Gainesville. The University of Florida, its athletic program, its alumni and its sports fans are often collectively referred to as the "Gator Nation".
Ohio Supreme Court keeps two dozen players eligible as hoops season looms
The Ohio Supreme Court filed an order Thursday that will keep the two dozen players involved in an eligibility case in that state available to play for teams across the country, with the start of college basketball…
Norm Sloan
Norman Leslie Sloan Jr. (June 25, 1926 – December 9, 2003) was an American college basketball player and coach.
Bracketology: Florida remains No. 1 overall, but don't sleep on Illinois
The consensus No. 1 Gators don't scream national champion with any certainty. The Illini, however, could.
Wikipedia summaries are licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Headlines and photos belong to their publishers.