Where will Kansas Jayhawks be ranked to begin next season? What early polls say
Kansas, which was not ranked in the final Associated Press Top 25 of the 2024-25 college men’s basketball season released on Tuesday, is expected to reclaim a spot in various polls to open the 2025-26 campaign.
The Jayhawks, who are bringing in Naismith High School Player of the Year Darryn Peterson to go with returning sophomore inside force Flory Bidunga, in fact have been accorded a spot in some “way-too-early” top 25’s.
ESPN.com’s Jeff Borzello — he has Kelvin Sampson’s suddenly-dominant Houston Cougars squad preseason No. 1 — has ranked the Jayhawks No. 15 overall.
“Coach Bill Self received a big boost for next season Sunday, when Flory Bidunga withdrew from the transfer portal and announced he was returning to the Jayhawks. He should form one of the best inside-outside duos in the country with Darryn Peterson, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft,” wrote Borzello. “Kansas has also already landed a couple of transfers in Tre White (Illinois) and Jayden Dawson (Loyola Chicago). Self probably needs a big-time perimeter scorer and more size before he’s done.”
ESPN has Purdue No. 2 followed by Louisville (which went 8-24 two years ago, 3-17 in the ACC), UConn, Michigan, Kentucky, Arkansas, Duke, St. John’s and UCLA. Missouri, Kansas State and Wichita State were not included in ESPN’s top 25.
Fox Sports’ John Fanta has ranked KU No. 12 in his first top 25 of the 2025-26 preseason. Houston is No. 1 followed by Purdue, Louisville, Duke, UConn, Texas Tech, Alabama, St. John’s, UCLA and Iowa State. Missouri, Kansas State and Wichita State were not included in that poll.
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish, who also has tapped Houston No. 1 overall, has assessed KU a No. 19 rating.
“This ranking is based on the Jayhawks returning one of the top seven scorers — specifically Bidunga — from a team that finished 21-13 and advanced to the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Illinois transfer Tre White, Loyola Chicago transfer Jayden Dawson and five-star freshman Peterson — plus Elmarko Jackson, a former five-star prospect who missed this season with a knee injury,” Parrish wrote.
Duke is No. 2, followed by Purdue, Alabama, UConn, UCLA, Iowa State, Arizona, Florida and St. John’s. Parrish did not include Missouri, K-State or Wichita State.
Kansas checked in at No. 17 in USA Today’s first poll of the preseason. Once again, Houston was the No. 1 pick of the trio of analysts Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith and Eddie Timanus.
“KU already got some good news with the return of sophomore forward Bidunga, who spent about a week in the portal before recommitting to the Jayhawks. He’s the one established contributor set to be back on the 2025-26 roster, which will be updated by the arrival of five-star guard Peterson and incoming transfer guards White and Dawson,” the trio wrote. “Another two freshmen could fight for playing time in forward Bryson Tiller and Samis Calderon. But the final make-up of KU’s roster won’t be determined until Self fills the final handful of scholarship spots in the portal.”
Duke was ranked No. 2 behind Houston, followed by UConn, UCLA, BYU, Alabama, Texas Tech, Florida, Michigan and Louisville.
KU has been ranked No. 6 by SI.com’s Kevin Sweeney.
“Kansas is retooling its roster around potential 2026 No. 1 NBA draft pick Peterson,” Sweeney wrote. “So far, the haul looks promising especially after former five-star Bidunga took his name out of the portal to return to KU. Dawson should provide some shooting around a ball-dominant player like Peterson, while White was a valuable piece for Illinois in 24–25. Peterson could be among the nation’s leading scorers, though, and will certainly be the focal point.”
That poll rated Houston No. 1 followed by Purdue, Duke, UConn, Louisville, KU, BYU, St. John’s, UCLA and Auburn.
This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Where will Kansas Jayhawks be ranked to begin next season? What early polls say."
