Florida Tops Preseason AP College Basketball Poll

The Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 rankings with Florida taking the top spot ahead of Duke.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball

Florida Tops Preseason AP College Basketball Poll

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Do you trust preseason college basketball rankings to accurately predict how teams will perform this season?

The Associated Press has unveiled its preseason Top 25 men's college basketball poll, placing Florida at No. 1 and Duke at No. 2. Notably, the North Carolina Tar Heels did not appear in the preseason rankings for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Why it matters

The preseason poll serves as the initial benchmark for the college basketball landscape, highlighting current powerhouse programs and major shifts in team standings. Its release signals the official beginning of the season as teams prepare for upcoming exhibition and regular-season play.

The poll includes 25 teams, with Florida holding the top ranking and Duke following at No. 2. Four ACC teams are currently positioned within the top 14 spots.

The players

Florida

Florida is a public university located in Gainesville that is recognized for its competitive men's basketball program.

Duke

Duke is a private research university in North Carolina known for its historic dominance in collegiate basketball.

North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are a major collegiate basketball program.

Clemson

Clemson is a public research university in South Carolina that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Georgia

Georgia is a public university that maintains a competitive athletic program within the Southeastern Conference.

The details

The rankings highlight a significant shift for the North Carolina Tar Heels, who failed to secure a spot in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in two decades. The ACC maintains a strong presence at the top of the poll with multiple teams represented in the upper echelon.

2005-06 season: The last time North Carolina was unranked in the preseason.
October 23, 2026: Clemson plays an exhibition game against Georgia.
November 2, 2026: The Clemson men's and women's basketball teams begin their regular seasons.

Season Trajectory

The current poll marks the first time since the 2005-06 North Carolina preseason ranking that the team has been excluded from the initial top 25 list. This shift indicates a potential realignment of power in the ACC as other programs move into the top 14.

Fans should monitor the movement of the four ranked ACC teams to see if their current top-14 positioning holds through early non-conference play. The absence of North Carolina from the initial poll sets a new statistical baseline for the program compared to their standing in the 2005-06 season.

The takeaway

The preseason rankings provide a snapshot of team expectations but often fluctuate significantly once actual play begins. Following the trends of established programs versus rising contenders will define the narrative of the college basketball season.

What happens next

The Clemson men's basketball team will play an exhibition game against Georgia on October 23, 2026, followed by the start of the regular season for both the men's and women's teams on November 2, 2026.