The preseason AP Top 25 is always a guessing game, but this year’s men’s college basketball poll feels especially slippery with eligibility questions swirling around the sport. Even so, a few teams look like they landed a little too high or a little too low when the rankings dropped Monday.
Michigan is the clearest case of a blueblood getting dinged harder than it should have been. Yes, the defending national champions lost coach Dusty May to the NBA just a couple of months after finishing on top, and five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. was knocked out for the season in late August.
But the Wolverines still have senior Elliot Cadeau and sophomore Trey McKenney giving the backcourt real stability, and McKenney’s March Madness impact off the bench suggests he’s ready for starter’s minutes. Add transfers J.P.
Estrella and Moustapha Thiam, and Michigan again has the kind of long, physical front line that should rebound and defend at a high level. Sixteenth is too low for the champs.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is the sort of team that could end up making the preseason voters look smart or a little too eager. The Volunteers brought in Sports Illustrated’s top-ranked transfer portal class, and the extra perimeter shooting should help a Rick Barnes offense that has too often fallen short in past NCAA tournaments.
Barnes also has a reputation for getting new pieces to click, even with 13 newcomers and four new starters in the mix. There’s a route to a strong offensive season in the SEC.
But the defense has to hold up, and that’s not a given after Xavier put up 59 second-half points in Tennessee’s first preseason exhibition this past week. Top 25, sure.
Top 10? Not yet.
Arkansas comes with all the usual John Calipari volatility. The roster has promising recruits, useful transfers and a key returnee in forward Billy Richmond, who was last year’s fourth-leading scorer.
But this is still a team that could lean heavily on freshmen, with as many as eight spots on the roster occupied by first-year players. That kind of youth can bring growing pains, especially with experienced transfers and starters Jeremiah Wilkinson and Cooper Bowser expected to matter so much.
The schedule does Arkansas no favors either, with three top-10 opponents on deck in nonconference play. Calipari joked that he was “on crack,” and the point is clear enough: those young players will have to grow up fast.
USC is the one that feels most in need of proof. After back-to-back seasons without an NCAA tournament berth and only seven conference wins last year, Eric Musselman badly needs a rebound in 2026-27.
The Trojans have the offensive firepower to make it happen, especially with Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas in the backcourt. The frontcourt also has real promise with Jacob Cofie, the Ratliff twins and, if he’s healthy, Eric Reibe.
But the injury issues that hurt USC last season are back in the conversation, and Reibe’s status looms especially large as the program’s potential starting center. The talent is there, but with so many new faces and only one ball to go around, USC feels like a team worth waiting on before stamping as a Top 25 lock.
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Michigan Fans Are Stuck Waiting On The Team's Biggest Indiana Decision
Michigan has already made its quarterback call for Indiana, but fans will have to wait a little longer to hear it from Kyle Whittingham. After Tommy Carr helped steady the offense in relief against Penn State, leading touchdown drives and protecting the ball, the conversation around the position has only gotten louder, especially with Bryce Underwood coming off a rough outing that included two interceptions.
Whittingham declined to reveal the starter, leaving the most important question for Saturday still hanging over the week. The decision could shape how Michigan approaches Indiana, and there is at least some intrigue around whether the Wolverines lean on the hot hand, try to get Underwood back on track, or use both in some capacity. For now, the plan is in place, even if the public part of it is still being kept under wraps. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Should Watch Utah's QB Decision Before Indiana Closely
Utah still has a quarterback decision hanging over its upcoming matchup with Indiana, and Kyle Whittingham didnt tip his hand when he met with reporters this week. He said a plan is in place, but he stopped short of naming a starter, leaving the Hoosiers to prepare without knowing exactly who will be under center.
Whittingham did sound encouraged by what he has seen elsewhere on offense, pointing to the Utes recent rushing production and the play of the offensive line. He also singled out the contributions and availability of several individual players, a reminder that the quarterback situation is only part of the picture as Utah works through the final stages of game prep. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Penn State Win Raised A Massive QB Question
Michigans 21-18 win over Penn State came with a notable halftime tweak, and it changed the feel of the offense almost immediately. After the Wolverines were blanked in the first half, head coach Kyle Whittingham turned to true freshman Tommy Carr in place of starter Bryce Underwood, and Michigan responded by putting up all of its points after the break.
Carrs line was modest on paper, but it was enough to give the offense some rhythm, with 5 completions on 7 attempts for 47 yards, plus 36 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The result leaves Michigan with a bigger conversation at quarterback than it had going into the game, especially with a road win in a tight conference game showing how quickly the depth chart can become a moving target. [Read more 🡒]