A look at Big Ten teams – including IU basketball – in updated 2026-27 preseason rankings

Darian DeVries watches an IU practice.

College basketball rosters are typically set by now, but this is not a typical time in college athletics.

Recent preliminary court injunctions have opened the door for members of the 2022 recruiting class to return to school for a fifth year of eligibility.

As a result, programs continue to make additions to their rosters for the 2026-27 season.

Here’s an updated look at where Big Ten teams – including IU basketball – currently stand in the preseason rankings for the 2026-27 season:

CBSSports.com – Gary Parrish

Parrish authors the Top 25-and-1 for CBSSports.com and the Big Ten currently has eight teams in his latest rankings.

Illinois leads the way at No. 3 and joining the Fighting Illini in the top 10 are No. 7 Michigan State and No. 9 Michigan.

Also in the top 26: UCLA at No. 17, USC at No. 20, Purdue at No. 21, Indiana at No. 22 and Ohio State at No. 26.

Jon Rothstein – FanDuel

Rothstein ranks 45 teams and frequently updates his rankings throughout the offseason.

There are 12 Big Ten teams in Rothstein’s top 45 and all of them are in the top 38.

Here’s the most recent breakdown: Illinois (No. 2), Michigan State (No. 5), Michigan (No. 7), USC (No. 13), UCLA (No. 19), Purdue (No. 23), Ohio State (No. 28), Indiana (No. 29), Nebraska (No. 32), Wisconsin (No. 35), Iowa (No. 37) and Oregon (No. 38).

ESPN.com – Jeff Borzello

Over at ESPN.com, Jeff Borzello maintains a top 25 throughout the offseason and also lists a “next five” group that just missed the cut.

Illinois is the top Big Ten team at No. 3 nationally, followed by Michigan at No. 8, Michigan State at No. 9, USC at No. 11, UCLA at No. 20 and Nebraska at No. 23.

Purdue and Indiana are included in the group of “next five.”

HoopsHQ.com – Seth Davis

Davis, a longtime college basketball voice and TV personality, also updates a preseason top 25, which he publishes on his site, HoopsHQ.com. His latest update was published July 20.

In a break from Parrish, Rothstein and Borzello, Davis doesn’t have Illinois as his top Big Ten team.

Michigan State, at No. 4 nationally, is the highest-ranked team from the Big Ten, followed by the Fighting Illini at No. 5, Michigan at No. 6, USC at No. 16, UCLA at No. 17, Ohio State at No. 21 and Indiana at No. 22.

SBNation – Mike Rutherford

SBNation’s latest update came in mid-July and is a top-35.

The Big Ten teams in the top 35: Illinois at No. 2, Michigan State at No. 8, Michigan at No. 11, UCLA at No. 21, Nebraska at No. 23, USC at No. 25, Indiana at No. 26, Ohio State at No. 28, Purdue at No. 29 and Iowa at No. 32.

Basket Under Review Podcast – Eamonn Brennan and Tate Frazier

Eamonn Brennan and Tate Frazier both published preseason top 25s for the 2026-27 season on social media and discussed those rankings on their latest podcast for Basket Under Review.

Frazier’s Big Ten teams in the top 25: Illinois at No. 3, Michigan at No. 6, Michigan State at No. 10, UCLA at No. 14, Indiana at No. 21 and USC at No. 24.

Brennan’s Big Ten teams in the top 25: Illinois at No. 4, Michigan State at No. 8, Michigan at No. 14, USC at No. 19, UCLA at No. 20 and Ohio State at No. 22.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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