Rivalries and Transfers Headline 2025–26 Season

The 2025–26 men’s college basketball season opens with renewed marquee rivalries and a loaded nonconference schedule that will showcase matchups at Madison Square Garden and campus arenas, with UConn–St. John’s (Rick Pitino vs. Dan Hurley) among the headliners. Key road tests such as games at Kansas and contests against Florida, plus Big 5 previews and player watch lists (including Villanova’s incoming freshman point guard), are expected to shape early national narratives. Several programs feature major roster turnover and coaching changes — Luke Loucks begins as Florida State’s head coach with an 11-player transfer haul, and South Carolina adds numerous transfers and freshmen ahead of its nonconference slate. Preseason analysis highlights the 30-win benchmark as an indicator of national-title contenders and identifies Power 5 and mid-major teams projected to reach that ceiling. Conference expansion, new football playoff tiebreaker rules and notable departures in NCAA swimming add cross-sport context that could reshape offseason storylines.