Sports
Men’s NCAA basketball megapreview, predictions for 2025-26
More than 200 days will have passed between the Florida Gators winning the 2024-25 national championship and the start of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, but the action finally returns on Nov. 3.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf weigh in on storylines that could shape the new season — and they join Neil Paine in making their predictions for everything from the Final Four and conference winners to All-America teams and beyond.
Which teams could make the biggest jumps? Which Top 25 programs are primed for early NCAA tournament exits? They answer seven burning questions then make their picks below.
Jump to:
Championship picks, conference winner |
Awards, All-America predictions
Could Florida really repeat?
Borzello: Florida absolutely can run it back this season.
Todd Golden brings back his entire frontcourt, a dominant group led by potential first-round NBA draft picks Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh and starting center Rueben Chinyelu. Golden also added two bona fide playmakers from the transfer portal in Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. Sure, there are some questions about depth — and whether Haugh can play full time at the 3 — but the talent of this starting five has few peers nationally, and Golden has proved he has the chops to win big games.
Medcalf: Florida can join the Gators team that achieved the same feat in 2006 and 2007.
Still, it’s important to note that this is a completely different squad with more questions than last season’s championship roster. Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard had a rare chemistry that was the foundation of the Gators’ 2025 title run. Martin was the new face in that trio, but he also had previously helped a team reach the Final Four (Florida Atlantic). Haugh, Fland and Lee will have to build that bond on the fly as Golden guides a starting five that will feature two point guards.
Lunardi: Don’t bet on a repeat in Gainesville.
Not because the Gators aren’t good enough but because winning 12 straight NCAA tournament games over two years is really, really hard. The fact that UConn did it in 2023 and 2024 makes the probability of back-to-back repeats less likely — not more. I still like Florida. A lot. But this is a case where you shouldn’t blame the messenger.
Will the SEC be as dominant as it was in 2024-25?
Borzello: The depth will be just as good, but it won’t be as powerful at the top.
Last season, the league produced two 1-seeds, two 2-seeds, a 3-seed and a 4-seed among its 14 NCAA tournament teams. With the expected improvement of LSU, we could see up to 15 teams fighting for tournament bids this season — and I would have at least 13 projected as of today. But it’s difficult to foresee four teams in the top eight again. Florida is a title contender and Kentucky isn’t far behind, but none of the other teams is a surefire Final Four threat.
Lunardi: It’s important to consider the laws of probability.
Is a conference likely to get better or worse after breaking the NCAA single-season bid record by three spots? Both on the court and team sheets, the SEC was every bit as dominant as the selection committee concluded its teams would be in the NCAA tournament. But there has to be at least some regression this season, if only because the uncommon sense of handing NCAA bids to teams that win only one-third of their conference games has undergone an offseason of heavy scrutiny. (As it should. No league is that good.)
Medcalf: It depends on your definition of dominant.
The SEC could again have a double-digit pool of representatives in the field on Selection Sunday, but it doesn’t have as many teams that could actually cut down the nets as last season. Florida and Kentucky are real contenders. It seems as if Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas could all be second-weekend teams too. Last season’s SEC, however, had three players who made the Associated Press’ All-America first team and one who made the third team. Those were dominant squads with star power.
Which team will make the biggest leap from 2024-25?
Borzello: NC State Wolfpack
Last season, we saw Dusty May and Pat Kelsey take over new programs and produce incredible turnarounds in Year 1, as their respective Michigan and Louisville squads jumped from eight wins to 27. This season, the best bet might be Will Wade and NC State. The Wolfpack went 12-19 overall last season, including 5-15 in the ACC, but Wade stockpiled a talented roster after taking over for Kevin Keatts in the spring. Led by potential All-American Darrion Williams, NC State finds itself inside my preseason top 25.
Lunardi: Iowa Hawkeyes
A season ago, Iowa missed its second straight NCAA tournament. As a result, Fran McCaffery now finds himself coaching at his alma mater, Penn. The deeper issue involved the Hawkeyes going three straight campaigns with a sub-150 defensive rating, costing them games despite considerable offensive talent. It was an anomaly in terms of approach in the Big Ten, one that new coach Ben McCollum figures to immediately solve. McCollum’s ultra-patient style and ultra-experienced imports will surprise in their new league and sneak into the tournament.
Medcalf: Washington Huskies
Last season, Washington finished 13-18 in Danny Sprinkle’s first year in Seattle, but a strong transfer class led by former USC teammates Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III could put the Huskies in the bubble conversation in Sprinkle’s second campaign. Early matchups against Baylor, USC and UCLA will be great barometers for Washington and its new roster.
First Top 25 team to exit the NCAA tournament
Borzello: Creighton Bluejays
The only preseason AP Top 25 team that wasn’t in my preseason top 25 is Michigan State, but I’m not naive enough to bet against Tom Izzo, regardless of the seed he gets on Selection Sunday. So, I’ll go with Creighton. The Bluejays should be elite offensively, especially if Jackson McAndrew makes the leap I’m expecting. But they could really struggle on the defensive end of the floor, and the primary creators in the half court could be a work in progress. If things get tight in a tournament environment, it could spell an early exit.
Lunardi: Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga avoided a major hit when a judge in Washington’s Spokane County granted a preliminary injunction to Grand Canyon transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, allowing him to play this season. The hard-luck veteran is no longer in limbo to start the campaign, but the Bulldogs — who last season missed the Sweet 16 for the first time in a decade — still have legitimate backcourt concerns, ones that could lead to an even earlier tournament exit.
Medcalf: North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels have more depth and more overall talent, but they couldn’t avoid the bubble with AP All-American RJ Davis leading the way last season. Caleb Wilson is a five-star prospect who will have key transfers — including Henri Veesaar — around him, but North Carolina will have to prove things have changed before fans are ready to believe.
Most intriguing mid-major
Borzello: UNC Wilmington Seahawks
UNCW won 27 games last season and went to the NCAA tournament, but the Seahawks will be more talented this time around despite returning just one starter. I’m mostly fascinated by the way Takayo Siddle went about that reload: poaching good players from other teams around the Coastal Athletic Association. CJ Luster II transferred from Stony Brook, Christian May arrived from Towson, Jahnathan Lamothe from North Carolina A&T and Madison Durr from Monmouth. Siddle also upgraded the interior with Virginia Tech transfer Patrick Wessler, who scored 10 points in 18 minutes against Duke last season, as well as Binghamton transfer Gavin Walsh, one of the nation’s top rebounders. This team has a chance to go to a second straight NCAA tournament — and potentially win a game.
Lunardi: The Western Athletic Conference
I’m going with an entire mid-major conference in lieu of a single team — and it’s not necessarily for good reason. Only seven schools remain in the shrinking WAC, a conference with both a serious past and a negligible future. The early departure of Grand Canyon to the Mountain West leaves a gaping hole at the top — and only three teams that have ever made the NCAA tournament. Somebody has to qualify, at least in 2026, which should make for great short-term theater in the WAC.
Medcalf: St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies
I’ll go with St. Thomas-Minnesota, a team that is eligible for the NCAA tournament for the first time after its transition from Division III to Division I athletics. The Tommies are the preseason pick to win the Summit League crown and potentially the conference tournament, which would make the team the first squad to go from Division III to Division I and secure an NCAA tournament berth. But it gets better. The supporters of this program are ready to spend (see: the new $175 million arena that opens next week) to make this private school in St. Paul the Gonzaga of the Upper Midwest. A run this season could put the Tommies on that path.
Athlete with outside shot to win Player of the Year
Borzello: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
If we take out two returning All-Americans (Braden Smith and JT Toppin) and the top three freshmen (AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer), the next guy on my list would be Ejiofor. You could have made the case last season that the St. John’s big man was the most impactful player in the Big East, given his offensive rebounding, ability to draw fouls and influence defensively. The Red Storm should be right around the top five nationally this season and a legitimate Final Four contender — and if that comes to fruition, Ejiofor taking another step forward after last season’s breakout will be a major reason.
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lendeborg is the right man in the right place at exactly the right time to possibly collect some major hardware. Last season, only two Division I players led their respective teams in the five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and steals). One was Cooper Flagg; the other was Lendeborg at UAB. Now in a great spot at Michigan, Lendeborg’s number will be impossible to miss. That he could be the missing player for a legitimate Final Four contender is just a bonus.
Medcalf: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
John Calipari has a strong history with high-level point guards at this level. John Wall, Derrick Rose and Tyler Ulis were All-Americans under his leadership. If Acuff can be a high-level playmaker for an Arkansas team that competes for a spot in the SEC’s top tier, Acuff could enter the Player of the Year conversation.
Coach with the most at stake
Borzello: Hubert Davis, North Carolina
Davis is the highest-profile coach entering the season in a tenuous situation, and he happens to coach one of the blue bloods of the sport with one of the best jobs in the country. Through four seasons at the helm, he has been to a national championship game, won an ACC championship, earned a 1-seed and been to multiple Sweet 16s. But the expectations in Chapel Hill don’t drop, and a missed NCAA tournament in 2023 combined with last season’s inconsistent 11-seed have increased the pressure on Davis. There’s enough talent on the roster to cool his seat, but that was the case last season too.
» Read Borzello’s coaching hot seat guide
Lunardi: Rick Pitino, St. John’s
Pitino is 73 years old. He has won everything there is to win at virtually every level of basketball. One could argue his numbers since being selected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 — a 221-72 record, a .754 winning percentage and six NCAA tournament bids in nine tries — make up their own HOF trajectory. What he hasn’t done is finish the job in his hometown. Two years with the New York Knicks half a lifetime ago and the past two with St. John’s have scratched an inch, certainly. But the chance to go out by winning really big with the Red Storm is very much on the table for Pitino in 2025-26. It could be his last, best chance.
Medcalf: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
It’s not like Sampson needs this; he has won 30 or more games in four consecutive seasons. He was within seconds of capturing the first national title of his career against Florida last season. And with the additions of three top-25 recruits, he’ll have the talent to get back to the final game of the campaign. At 70 years old, Sampson says he will always adapt, despite the changes in this game. He has proved he can do that. Yet few teams have had the five-year window he has enjoyed as a national title contender. This could be the season. And if it’s not, it could be difficult to get back to this stage with all of the real-time turbulence impacting college basketball.
CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS
National champion
Borzello: Purdue
Lunardi: Michigan
Medcalf: Houston
Paine: Houston
Final Four
Borzello: Purdue, Florida, Louisville, BYU
Lunardi: Duke, Purdue, Michigan, UConn
Medcalf: Kentucky, Houston, Purdue, BYU
Paine: Houston, Purdue, Michigan, Florida
Conference winners
AWARDS PREDICTIONS
Player of the Year
Borzello: Braden Smith, Purdue
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Medcalf: Braden Smith, Purdue
Paine: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year
Borzello: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Lunardi: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Medcalf: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Paine: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Newcomer of the Year
Borzello: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Medcalf: Darrion Williams, NC State
Paine: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
» Read ESPN’s top 50 newcomer rankings
All-America teams
Borzello:
Braden Smith, Purdue
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Cameron Boozer, Duke
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Lunardi:
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Medcalf:
Braden Smith, Purdue
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Paine:
Braden Smith, Purdue
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
» Read Jay Bilas’ All-America predictions
Coach of the Year
Borzello: Pat Kelsey, Louisville
Lunardi: Dusty May, Michigan
Medcalf: Mark Pope, Kentucky
Paine: Matt Painter, Purdue
Sports
Cam Newton views adding 18th regular-season game as ‘good business,’ questions how preseason games will work
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As the NFL continues to expand its reach and capitalizes on the ever-growing popularity of the sport both domestically and globally, talk of adding an 18th regular-season game has become more apparent.
The NFL Players’ Association has said players “have no appetite for a regular-season 18th game,” while owners like New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft believes “every team will go 18” at some point sooner than later.
For former MVP quarterback Cam Newton, he’s taking a step back and viewing an 18th regular-season game from both sides. That assessment has him believing preseason games, which every team plays three before Week 1 of the regular season, will become even more diluted.
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Cam Newton of team J Balvin looks on against team Druski during the Super Bowl LX Celebrity Flag football game on YouTube at Moscone Center South on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
“Man, it’s a lot on the body,” he told Fox News Digital about another regular-season game added to the schedule, while discussing his Iconic Saga Productions partnership with Offscript Worldwide. “If you really look at it, what’s happening is they’re devaluing preseason games as we know it to be, and they’re trying to put it on the back end.
“Because, one thing we all know — and I say this with all due respect — America’s new game has been, for some time, American football. It’s just good business. The Super Bowl garners a global audience that no sporting event can attest to, especially domestically in the United States. So, they know, the more they give, the more they’re able to garner from difference audiences.”
So, as Newton sees this simply as “good business” for the NFL, he’s implying the league will once again drop a preseason game from a team’s schedule to add the 18th game. It’s what happened when the 17th regular-season game was added in 2021, as the preseason schedule was reduced from four to three games.
“I think, when you’re talking about the 18th game, it really comes down to if teams are going to really focus on preseason, or negate preseason altogether, just to get right into the regular season. That’s going to be interesting to kind of see,” Newton added.
While the NFLPA has pushed back at the potential of an 18th game, citing player safety as one of the main reasons behind keeping the schedule as is, others like Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins see it as inevitable.
“It’s going to happen either way,” he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
“Then, 20 years later, guess what? We’re talking about a 19th, then we’ll be talking about a 20th.… Then it’s like, ‘Yeah, we are combat athletes all year long.’ But who knows,” Dawkins added.
ESPN analyst Cam Newton is on the set of “First Take” on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
For now, 17 games is what the NFL schedule will read in 2026. But, as Dawkins noted, who really knows?
To Newton’s point, it’s simply good business as demand continues to skyrocket for the league as each season passes.
EXPANDING CONTENT REACH WITH OFFSCRIPT
Newton may not be on the field any longer, but he remains tuned in with the NFL and every other sports moment through his content creation, most notably his “Funky Friday” and “4th & 1 with Cam Newton” shows as part of his Iconic Saga Productions.
Newton and his production team announced a major partnership with Offscript Worldwide, a creator-owned ecosystem that connects culture-shaping brands and platforms under one roof, which includes REVOLT Sports and 3BlackDot.
Offscript unveiled this new partnership at the 2026 IAB NewFronts, where they will begin collaborating with Newton’s independent production powerhouse, integrating his hit shows and amplifying the reach of athlete-driven storytelling for global brands.
Cam Newton on radio row at the Super Bowl LIX media center on Feb. 7, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“When you really think about Offscript, it’s like the ecosystem that bridges so many different facets of our lives, from sports, to culture, to lifestyle and so many different things,” Newton explained. “That transition for me wasn’t foreign. Instead of training to be the best football player, or the best athlete. Now, I’m just training to be the best content creator I can possibly be.
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“I just always want to be a beacon of the person, in a lot of ways, figured it out as I went. I’m just so thrilled that Offscript gives me and Iconic Saga the opportunity to continue to believe in our vision, and we’re not able to do these things without great partners like this.”
As this partnership kicks off, Newton will also be hitting the road for the “4th & 1 College Tailgate Experience,” visiting HBCU’s across the U.S. to celebrate their heritage and shine a national spotlight on student-athletes, academic programs, and the unique game-day culture that defines what it means to be an HBCU.
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Phil Foden could reportedly leave Manchester City in the hunt for more first-team football, while Julián Álvarez‘s much-speculated exit from Atlético Madrid this summer may not come to fruition.
Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades
TRENDING RUMORS
– Manchester City attacking midfielder Phil Foden is ready to leave the club this summer. Football Insider reports that the 25-year-old has been frustrated by his limited playing time recently, and if an agreement over a new contract isn’t reached in the next months, he will look to move to a team in Europe, where several top clubs would be keen on him. Foden has been named on the bench by manager Pep Guardiola in four of his last five appearances across all competitions.
– Atlético Madrid are preparing to ward off interest in forward Julián Álvarez from Arsenal and Barcelona by offering him a new contract, Marca reports. The LaLiga side are believed to be readying a €10 million-per-season proposal that would place the 26-year-old on the highest salary at the club, with plans to make him their “flagship” player and successor to Antoine Griezmann, who will leave for Orlando City at the end of the season. Alvarez has caught the attention of both Arsenal and Barça following his impressive form in the current campaign, but it is said that there is optimism among the Wanda Metropolitano hierarchy that he will sign an extension.
– Chelsea are interested in AC Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic, according to Corriere dello Sport. The Premier League club are reported to have already made contact with the 24-year-old’s representatives and are now monitoring his situation at the San Siro. It is expected that an offer worth at least €40 million would be required to get a deal over the line, with the Milan seeing him as a key figure among their squad. Pavlovic has scored four goals in 26 league matches this season, while he also starts regularly for Serbia at international level.
– Manchester United are lining up a move at the end of the season for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to The Daily Mail. The 25-year-old is reported to be made United’s priority option amid plans to strengthen their midfield, while club captain Bruno Fernandes has also provided his approval of the proposed addition. Tonali, who has made 47 appearances across all competitions for the Magpies this season, has also previously been linked with Arsenal and Manchester City.
– Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde is on the radar of Manchester City, Manchester United, and Aston Villa. Mundo Deportivo reports that all three Premier League clubs have made inquiries regarding a potential deal for the 22-year-old, and while he wants to stay put at Barça, they could be willing to consider moving him on if they receive a “substantial” offer. Balde, contracted at Spotify Camp Nou until the summer of 2028, is seen as Barça’s first choice starter on the left side of the defense.
ESPN EXCLUSIVES
– OL Lyonnes are close to convincing midfielder Caroline Weir to leave Real Madrid as a free agent this summer. Read
– Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad have resumed work on a deal for Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward announced Tuesday that he will leave the club at the end of the season. According to a source, Al Qadsiah are the only other Saudi Arabian club with the finances and ambition to rival Al Ittihad. Read
– MLS clubs Inter Miami and LA Galaxy, along with Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad, are interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro on a free transfer for next season. Read
– Barcelona are considering an attacking shake-up which would include listening to offers for forward Ferran Torres and the arrival of up to two new forwards. Read
OTHER RUMORS
1:53
Could Liverpool sign Kvaratskhelia or Olise to replace Salah?
Craig Burley debates who Liverpool could sign to replace Mohamed Salah.
– Barcelona are looking at Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, but a deal could be difficult due to Real Madrid holding 50% of the playing rights on his contract that also includes a clause for them to sign him back. (Mundo Deportivo)
– Real Madrid are continuing to monitor Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate. (AS)
– Manchester United remain interested in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. (Mirror)
– Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has no interest in leaving the Parc des Princes this summer amid links to Arsenal. (Daily Mail)
– Chelsea, Newcastle, and Brighton are battling to win the race to sign FC Koln forward Said El Mala. (TEAMtalk)
– Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly is on the radar of Manchester United. (Express)
– Liverpool could sign two wingers this summer as they also look to land a player for the left-flank while finding a Mohamed Salah successor. RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is under consideration. (Ben Jacobs)
– Several top Premier League and Bundesliga teams are keeping tabs on FC Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks. (Rudy Galetti)
– Inter Milan remain keen on Roma midfielder Manu Kone. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Liverpool are among multiple Premier League clubs interested in Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida. (TEAMtalk)
– Everton manager David Moyes is keen to sign West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek. (Football Insider)
The final spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided this month. In Europe, several matches will determine which teams are one step closer to qualifying for this summer’s tournament in North America.
Here were the UEFA matches that will be played Thursday: Türkiye defeated Romania 1-0 in the early game, Denmark got a convincing 4-0 win over North Macedonia, Italy impressed in the second half with a 2-0 win vs. Northern Ireland, Poland responded well in the second half to beat Albania 2-1, we had a thriller between Slovakia and Kosovo that saw the visitors win 4-3 to still dream about qualifying for their first-ever World Cup and Viktor Gyökeres got a hat trick for Sweden to win 3-1 vs. Ukraine.
However, two games have gone to extra time and penalties with Czechia beating the Republic of Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina beating Wales to advance to their respective final on Tuesday.
Enjoy all the live updates from today’s matches!
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