Northwestern, Wisconsin Highlight Big Ten Basketball Preseason Rankings

The 2025-26 college basketball season in the Big Ten is shaping up with several key developments and rankings. Wisconsin is currently ranked No. 23 nationally by Jon Rothstein, bolstered by the transfer of forward Elijah Gray, enhancing their frontcourt depth as they rebuild after losing several seniors. Bart Torvik’s T-Rank projections list Purdue, Michigan, and Houston among the top five teams nationally, with several Big Ten teams featuring notable incoming transfers and roster changes that could impact their season performance. Northwestern football also received preseason recognition with four players named to the All-Big Ten teams, highlighting offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan as a potential high NFL draft pick and key defensive contributors like Aidan Hubbard and linebacker Mac Uihlein. Additionally, Illinois basketball players such as Ben Humrichous are under the spotlight as key figures for their respective teams in the upcoming season. Overall, the Big Ten is preparing for a competitive year across both football and basketball, with roster adjustments and player development critical to team success.