(AP) – The preseason AP Top 25 for the 2025–26 men’s college basketball season is out, and the Arkansas Razorbacks are once again among the nation’s best — checking in at No. 14 in the rankings released Monday.
It’s the first time since 2022 that Arkansas opens inside the Top 15.
The Razorbacks return several key contributors and welcome an elite recruiting class that includes Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall prospect in the ESPN 100, and Karter Knox, a returning standout expected to take on a leading role this season. Alongside D.J. Wagner, who averaged 11.2 points per game last year, the Hogs’ backcourt is loaded with athleticism and scoring potential.
The Razorbacks are coming off a 22–14 campaign that included a trip to the Sweet 16, where they fell to Texas Tech. With a retooled roster and Calipari’s championship pedigree, Arkansas looks poised to climb even higher in the national conversation.
The schedule won’t offer much time to ease in — Arkansas opens the season November 3 against Southern on the SEC Network. One of the team’s biggest early tests comes December 20, when the Hogs face No. 2 Houston in Newark as part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic (5:30 p.m., CBS/Paramount+).
Purdue enters the season ranked No. 1, followed by Houston, Florida, UConn, and St. John’s rounding out the Top 5. The defending national champion Florida Gators — who feature former Razorback guard Boogie Fland — are one of four SEC teams in the preseason rankings, joined by Tennessee (No. 18), Alabama (No. 15), and Arkansas (No. 14).
With the combination of five-star freshmen, proven veterans, and Calipari’s leadership, expectations are sky-high in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks may not be the SEC favorite just yet — but they’re firmly back in the national spotlight.
The 2025–26 college basketball season tips off November 3.
AP Preseason Top 25
-
Purdue
-
Houston
-
Florida
-
UConn
-
St. John’s
-
Duke
-
Michigan
-
BYU
-
Kentucky
-
Texas Tech
-
Louisville
-
UCLA
-
Arizona
-
Arkansas
-
Alabama
-
Iowa State
-
Illinois
-
Tennessee
-
Kansas
-
Auburn
-
Gonzaga
-
Michigan State
-
Creighton
-
Wisconsin
-
North Carolina
