Arizona Wildcats

Big 12 Lands Six Teams in 2026-27 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll

By Pete Mundo

Posted on October 19, 2026 at 12:34 pm

The Big 12 once again proved its basketball depth with the release of the 2026-27 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll, placing six teams in the rankings and another just outside the poll.

Defending Big 12 champion Arizona leads the way at No. 5 nationally after winning both the conference regular-season and tournament championships last season. Tommy Lloyd’s program has quickly become one of the nation’s most consistent powers, and voters clearly expect the Wildcats to remain squarely in the national title conversation.

Houston checks in at No. 10, continuing Kelvin Sampson’s remarkable run of success. The Cougars have become one of the sport’s most reliable programs, and with JoJo Tugler returning to anchor another elite defensive unit, Houston is expected to once again challenge for a Big 12 crown.

Perhaps the biggest surprise from a conference perspective is Kansas landing at No. 17. While Bill Self welcomes No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes to Lawrence, the ranking reflects lingering questions following an inconsistent stretch by the Jayhawks’ standards. Still, history suggests writing off Kansas in October is usually a mistake.

Just behind the Jayhawks are Iowa State at No. 18 and Texas Tech at No. 19. The Cyclones are expected to benefit from the return of veteran guard Tamin Lipsey, while Grant McCasland‘s Red Raiders continue to build momentum after assembling another talented roster through the transfer portal.

BYU rounded out the conference’s ranked teams at No. 25, giving Kevin Young another preseason Top 25 squad as expectations continue to rise in Provo. Meanwhile, TCU narrowly missed the rankings, receiving votes and positioning itself as another potential NCAA Tournament contender.

The poll highlights a changing but still formidable Big 12 hierarchy. Arizona enters the season as the league’s highest-ranked team, but with six ranked programs and multiple others capable of making a run, the conference race again appears set to be the deepest and most competitive in college basketball.