Way-Too-Early Top 25: New No. 1, more risers after...
Key takeaways
- Opinions on the transfer portal are strong and varied, but say what you want: It has transformed April into arguably college basketball's second-most intriguing month.
- Players who have entered and exited the portal over the past three weeks have changed the outlook for the 2026-27 season.
- A repeat of the 2025 Final Four was anticipated at this time last year, and that is exactly what happened.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Opinions on the transfer portal are strong and varied, but say what you want: It has transformed April into arguably college basketball's second-most intriguing month.
Players who have entered and exited the portal over the past three weeks have changed the outlook for the 2026-27 season. Six teams that didn't make the April 5 edition of our Way-Too-Early Top 25 are now in after rebuilding their nearly depleted rosters, including reigning national champion UCLA and Elite Eight participant TCU. Portal movement also triggered a change at No. 1, where South Carolina has taken over as the favorite to win it all next April.
A repeat of the 2025 Final Four was anticipated at this time last year, and that is exactly what happened. To get South Carolina, UConn, Texas and UCLA back to the national semifinals would be far more surprising this time around, but all four have made the following cut, with three in the top 10. Joyce Edwards is back for the Gamecocks, Sarah Strong will defend her national player of the year honors for the Huskies and Madison Booker returns to the Longhorns. Throw in the healthy return of JuJu Watkins, and the All-America team could be easier to predict than the 2027 Final Four.