IU basketball lands just outside the top 25 in ESPN’s preseason rankings for 2026-27 season

Darren Harris attempts a shot at IU basketball practice.

A significant change in the national landscape – Dusty May’s move from Michigan to the Dallas Mavericks – prompted an update today in a notable preseason top 25 for the 2026-27 season.

The departure of May, a former IU basketball manager who won a national title with the Wolverines in April in his second Big Ten season, is a major headline for the sport.

Michigan’s 2025-26 national championship was the first for the Big Ten since Michigan State won it in 2000.

May’s decision to leave Ann Arbor moved Michigan from No. 2 to No. 5 in Jeff Borzello’s “way too early” top 25 for next winter over at ESPN.com.

IU basketball, viewed nationally as a success story for its portal class assembled in the spring, is just outside the top 25 in the same rankings.

The Hoosiers, who will be led by Markus Burton and Aiden Sherrell next season, are among the “next five” teams in the updated ESPN rankings.

Indiana is joined in that group by Villanova, Purdue, Saint Louis and BYU.

Outside of Michigan at No. 5, several other Big Ten teams are in the top 25.

Illinois is the top Big Ten team, rising four spots from No. 7 to No. 3. In addition to the Fighting Illini and Wolverines, Michigan State is also in the top 10 at No. 9.

Just outside of the top 10 is USC at No. 11 and Nebraska is the fifth Big Ten team in the updated top 25 at No. 22.

The preseason top five, according to the latest ESPN preseason top 25, is Florida, Duke, Illinois, UConn and Michigan.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

See More: Media, 2026-27 season preview