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The 2026-27 college basketball season officially begins following an offseason defined by unresolved court cases for dozens of players seeking a fifth year of eligibility. Attention now shifts entirely to the hardwood as 20 preseason AP Top 25 teams take the court on opening day, highlighted by a pair of ranked showdowns.
Top Matchups on Opening Night
Florida enters the new campaign ranked No. 1 with aspirations of securing its second national championship in three years, but faces an early test against No. 14 Miami in Tampa. Later in the evening, a former Pac-12 rivalry renews in Las Vegas as No. 5 Arizona squares off against No. 22 UCLA. That contest showcases the debuts of two standout freshmen: Arizona’s Caleb Holt and UCLA’s Nikola Kusturica. Additional neutral-site games feature No. 15 Gonzaga meeting Purdue, No. 18 Iowa State battling Memphis, and Ohio State taking on No. 25 BYU.
Arizona vs. UCLA Breakdown
Arizona enters the Las Vegas matchup short-handed without forward RJ Godfrey due to ongoing legal eligibility issues, though the roster still boasts Caleb Holt, Ivan Kharchenkov, and big man Mo Krivas. CBS Sports Headlines notes that Arizona holds a significant size advantage in the backcourt, while UCLA counters with Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty and 17-year-old freshman Nikola Kusturica. UCLA forward Eric Dailey Jr. presents a tough test for the depleted Arizona frontcourt. UCLA coach Mick Cronin typically slows the tempo against Arizona’s transition offense, leading to a lean toward the under and UCLA +4.5.
Miami vs. Florida and Memphis vs. Iowa State
In Tampa, the focal point between No. 14 Miami and No. 1 Florida centers on whether Miami’s frontcourt can contain Florida’s trio of Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Alex Condon. Miami is bolstered by Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis, leading to a prediction of a Florida victory with Miami covering +5.5. Meanwhile, in Sioux Falls, No. 18 Iowa State meets Memphis without Memphis big man Nemanja Popovic, who has been ruled ineligible for the first six games by the NCAA. Despite Iowa State’s strong defensive metrics under coach T.J. Otzelberger, new faces require time to gel, making Memphis +5.5 or +13.5 an attractive option if turnovers are avoided.
Gonzaga, Purdue, Ohio State, and BYU
Gonzaga and Purdue collide in Las Vegas with the Zags possessing a distinct frontcourt advantage through Braden Huff, Massamba Diop, and Izan Almansa against Purdue’s Daniel Jacobsen. With Gonzaga also featuring future NBA wing Davis Fogle, the pick leans toward Gonzaga -4.5. Finally, in Salt Lake City, Ohio State meets No. 25 BYU, which features returning guard Robert Wright III, five-star wing Bruce Branch III, and former Michigan State big man Jaxon Kohler. Analyst Cameron Salerno projects BYU to secure a -2.5 victory while monitoring Ohio State five-star forward Anthony Thompson.
