The preseason NCAA Men’s USA Today College Basketball Coaches Poll was released on Wednesday, and the 2025-26 version of the Ohio State Buckeyes just missed out on being included in the top 25. OSU did get some votes and basically checked in at No. 29, just four spots out of the poll.
As most are doing, the national media and pollsters are taking a wait and see approach to this year’s team. Last season’s squad underwhelmed and underperformed, and missed out on the NCAA Tournament for a third-straight season. Many of those pieces are no longer with the team, and head coach Jake Diebler decided to build around a smaller nucleus that involves Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal, and John Mobley Jr. There are several signings and pieces added through the transfer portal that have promise but will need to come together with the rest of the team for OSU to get back among the better teams in the Big Ten and country.
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But back to the Coaches Poll, Big Ten rival Purdue topped all teams as No. 1 ahead of the season, followed by Houston (2), Florida, (3) UConn (4), Duke, (5) St. John’s (6), Michigan, (7) BYU (8), Kentucky (9), and Louisville (10), rounding out the top ten.
Here’s a look at the entire top 25.
USA TODAY Preseason Coaches Poll
|
Ranking |
Team |
Points (1st Place Votes) |
Last season’s Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Purdue |
755 (18) |
12 |
|
2 |
Houston |
749 (12) |
2 |
|
3 |
Florida |
704 (1) |
1 |
|
4 |
Connecticut |
647 |
NR |
|
5 |
Duke |
623 |
3 |
|
6 |
St. John’s |
609 |
10 |
|
7 |
Michigan |
569 |
11 |
|
8 |
Brigham Young |
532 |
15 |
|
9 |
Kentucky |
529 |
14 |
|
10 |
Louisville |
456 |
21 |
|
11 |
Texas Tech |
455 |
8 |
|
12 |
421 |
NR |
|
|
13 |
Arizona |
398 |
13 |
|
14 |
Illinois |
349 |
NR |
|
15 |
Arkansas |
329 |
25 |
|
16 |
322 |
6 |
|
|
17 |
292 |
5 |
|
|
18 |
Iowa State |
289 |
17 |
|
19 |
Kansas |
235 |
NR |
|
20 |
Gonzaga |
185 |
20 |
|
21 |
144 |
7 |
|
|
22 |
114 |
4 |
|
|
23 |
Creighton |
103 |
24 |
|
24 |
62 |
16 |
|
|
25 |
37 |
NR |
Others Receiving Votes
North Carolina State 33; Oregon 26; San Diego State 15; Ohio State 15; Baylor 13; Virginia 11; Vanderbilt 10; USC 7; Texas 6; Villanova 5; Missouri 5; Ole Miss 4; Washington 3; Saint Mary’s 3; Iowa 3; Cincinnati 3; VCU 2; Oklahoma State 1; Kansas State 1; Boise State 1
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: US Today Preseason NCAA Men’s Coaches poll leaves out Ohio State hoops
