Fans are Getting Eager Ahead of the New College Basketball Season
College basketball returns on the 3rd of November 2025 and there is huge excitement among sports fans. The early season consists of non-conference games, where schools meet opponents from outside their leagues. Come January, the season switches to conference games and that leads to the postseason tournaments, including the national title game.
Purdue are the Favourites
Purdue made the Sweet Sixteen last season and despite losing to Houston in the third round, the Boilermakers begin this season as favourites with the sportsbooks. Purdue have Braden Smith in their ranks, and he is a special player. Named Big Ten Player of the Year last season, Smith averaged close to 16 points and finished the season with 8.7 assists per game, which is fantastic. However, it is not only the continued presence of Smith that makes the Boilermakers favourites, but also the players who will join him this season.
Purdue have Trey Kaufman-Renn plus they have added Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State. Having been named Summit League Newcomer of the Year and first team all-conference, Cluff made the move to the Boilermakers and the rim protection he brings could make the difference for Purdue this season. With top reserves including Daniel Jacobsen, Omer Mayer, Gicarri Harris, and Liam Murphy, Matt Painter has wonderful options at his disposal. For those closely following the Boilermakers' championship aspirations this season, sportsbooks are offering different promos and bonuses such as deposit matches and first bet offers like those available at: https://www.actionnetwork.com/online-sports-betting/reviews/fanatics-sportsbook.
2025/26 College Basketball Contenders
Purdue may be ranked as the number one team but who are the other top contenders in college basketball this season? Houston Cougars fell at the final hurdle last season, losing the national championship game by 2 points. However, it was proof of how well Houston have improved and despite the loss of J’Wan Roberts and LJ Cryer, the roster looks strong enough to have another shot at the national championship game. The Cougars freshman recruits have caught the eye, with Kingston Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr., and Isiah Harwell joining with huge potential. The new faces make for an exciting time at Houston and fans will be eager to see how they can perform this season.
Duke have lost Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel and there will be a significant number of new faces for the Blue Devils this season. Nikolas Khamenia and Sebastian Wilkins are two thrilling new recruits for Duke. There has also been a lot of noise generated by the addition of the Boozer brothers, Cameron and Cayden. The sons of Olympic gold medallist and former NBA player Carlos Boozer, Cameron was the boy's Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2023 and 2025 while Cayden played in the 2025 McDonald's All-American Boys Game. Blue Devils fans could have a lot of fun with the Boozer twins in action.
Florida Under the Radar
Florida may have been crowned national champions in April 2025 but that does not make them favourites to do the same in 2026. The loss of Will Richard, Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin may have something to do with Florida slipping down the rankings, but the Gators still have plenty to offer, especially in the frontcourt with Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu all ready for their senior seasons. The addition of Boogie Fland from Arkansas has caught the attention of the Gators fans and Xaivian Lee is another notable recruit.
Florida may not be favourites with the sportsbooks this season, but they have what it takes to enjoy another deep run and college basketball 2025/26 is set to be an exhilarating ride for basketball fans.