Countdown to the 2025-26 College Basketball Season

We’re now less than 50 days away from kicking off the 2025-26 boys’ college basketball season. There’s a kind of hopeful buzz among fans of various popular teams.

For some, there’s a genuine belief that next March could be the moment their team breaks through, reaching the final weekend of the tournament for the first time this century.

Here are five programs that might just make the leap to the Final Four in 2026.

Last season was a mixed bag for St. John’s fans. While Rick Pitino led the team to its first Big East regular season title since 1992 and won the Big East Tournament for the first time since 2000, the disappointing defeat to 10th-seeded Arkansas cast a shadow over the end of the season.

But now, the mood is shifting. Pitino and the fan base are optimistic.

Johnny’s team managed to shine on defense and rebounding—two hallmarks of Pitino’s coaching style—but they struggled to score enough to be serious national contenders. To address this, they bolstered their roster via the transfer portal, bringing in standout players like Ian Jackson from UNC, Bryce Hopkins from Providence, and Ojiya Sellers from Stanford. With the return of All-Big East player Zuby Ejiofor and the addition of versatile forward Dillon Mitchell from Cincinnati, there’s hope that Red Storm can make a significant impact for the first time in over 40 years.

Meanwhile, BYU remains hopeful as no team has participated in more NCAA tournaments or secured a tournament win without making it to the Final Four. Cougar fans are gearing up for what many consider to be their most exciting basketball season to date.

Kevin Young has assembled a roster that certainly grabs attention. He succeeded in welcoming Robert Wright III from Baylor, who had a standout freshman year as a point guard. He will team up with Richie Sanders, who averaged 16.5 points per game last season, and the promising AJ Dybantsa. If BYU can ramp up their defensive game, especially with the addition of Southern Illinois transfer Kennard Davis, they could be a formidable force.

John Calipari’s inaugural season at Fayetteville brought mixed feelings—it didn’t quite live up to expectations. However, the Razorbacks, although starting as a 10-seed, managed to pull off upsets against Kansas and St. John’s, making it to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years. There’s a fair bit of uncertainty surrounding Texas Tech’s aims for the 2025-26 season.

This season, Calipari brings back key players DJ Wagner, Carter Knox, and Trebon Brazil. Plus, they’re welcoming standout freshman guard Darius Akuff and high-quality transfers from Florida, Maliquewin and Nikkipurinl. If Acuff can meet the high expectations placed on him, the Razorbacks could very well soar to new heights.

Over in Iowa, TJ Otzelberger has had a solid track record, winning 85 games over four seasons and leading the team to several tournament championships. However, despite their strong seeds the last couple of years, he hasn’t yet taken the Cyclones past the Sweet 16.

With departures of key players Curtis Jones and Kechon Gilbert from last season’s impressive squad, Iowa still retains three starters: Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momariovich, and Joshua Jefferson. The addition of promising recruits Blake Buchanan and Eric Mulder should help bolster the defense, positioning them as a top contender once again.

Fans are getting hopeful; it’s just a matter of when Otzelberger can push Iowa to the sport’s biggest stage.

When it comes to NCAA tournament appearances, BYU might hold the record, but Tennessee is often viewed as the most notable program without a Final Four appearance. Their recent successes in the last seven tournaments under Rick Barnes have added to this notoriety. The Volunteers have been seeded well and have shown bright moments, but they still seek that elusive Final Four visit.

This season, Tennessee may not have the same buzz as in previous years, but perhaps that’s just what they need. They return key player Felix Okpara, while a promising group of newcomers includes five-star freshman Nate Emento and Maryland transfer guard Ja’kobi Gillespie. So there’s still plenty of reasons to be optimistic in Knoxville.