The Florida Gators men's college basketball team ranks No. 1 in the first Power Rankings of the 2026–27 season after winning its first three games: 77–67 over Miami on November 2, 88–57 over Jacksonville on November 5 and 81–72 at Florida State on November 10.
The rankings, released Thursday, November 12, reflect results through November 11. Florida held the No. 1 preseason ranking and remains there. Coach Todd Golden has settled into an eight-man rotation — his five starters plus reserves Urban Klavzar, Domen Petrovic and Isaiah Brown played 199 of 200 minutes against Miami and all 200 minutes against Florida State.
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UConn Huskies rank second at 3–0. Silas Demary Jr., fully healthy after an NCAA tournament ankle injury, averages 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.7 steals. Braylon Mullins scored 20 or more points in each of his first two games. UConn defeated Gardner-Webb (86–46), Michigan (85–77) and Wagner (83–41).
Michigan State Spartans rank third at 3–0. Forward Jordan Scott recorded nine defensive rebounds, six blocks and two steals in a 79–73 win over Duke on November 10. Duke coach Jon Scheyer said Scott “just really impacts winning.” The Spartans also beat Quinnipiac (96–59) and Toledo (91–61).
Kansas Jayhawks rank fourth at 3–0. They rose 17 spots from their No. 19 preseason ranking. Their 89–69 win over Kentucky featured 24 assists on 32 made baskets and a 22–0 advantage in points off turnovers. Kansas added Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn before the season.
UCLA Bruins rank fifth at 3–0. They jumped from No. 24 preseason. Freshman Nikola Kusturica scored 29 points on 10-for-12 shooting against North Florida. Transfer Jaylen Petty averages 17 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 48% from 3-point range. UCLA beat Arizona (84–75), North Florida (114–63) and Arkansas Pine-Bluff (106–37).
Duke Blue Devils rank sixth at 2–1. They fell from No. 2 preseason after a 79–73 loss to Michigan State on November 10. Duke shot 26% in the first half — its worst first-half percentage under coach Jon Scheyer — and 41.9% on 2-pointers, its lowest since the 2025 Final Four loss to Houston.
Illinois Fighting Illini rank ninth at 2–1. They dropped from No. 3 preseason after an 84–78 loss at Texas Tech on November 10. Illinois scored 1.05 points per possession in that game — its third-lowest mark from last season — and committed 16 turnovers.
Texas Tech Red Raiders rank eighth at 3–0. Guards Cruz Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn combined for 35 points and eight assists against Illinois. Former All-Big 12 player Darrion Williams averages 3.7 points and has made a field goal in just one game.
Next week features the Players Era 8 tournament in Las Vegas, Illinois at Duke on November 17, Michigan State at Tennessee on November 17 and UConn at Arizona on November 18.
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