College Basketball Rankings: CBS Sports shakes up early Top 25 And 1 after recent portal activity

It’s been just over a week since the 2024-25 college basketball season concluded. However, CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish is already back with a way-too-early Top 25 and 1 Rankings for next season.

Parrish took into consideration teams’ returning pieces, along with their incoming freshman classes and success in the transfer portal. While the offseason has only just begun for some teams, others have been reloading their roster for nearly a month now.

Parrish considered each of these factors accordingly in his updated list. Without further ado, let’s dive into Parrish’s college basketball Top 25 and 1 Rankings.

1. Houston Cougars

Previous Ranking: 1
Houston came up just shy of hoisting a national championship trophy this season but Parrish expects the Cougars to be back in the thick of the hunt next season. After all, Houston is expected to return star guard Emanuel Sharp.

Sharp will be far from the only talent on Houston’s roster next season. The Cougars have already added Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs this offseason. Additionally, Houston boasts the No. 2 class in the 2025 recruiting cycle, according to On3’s Industry Rankings.

2. Duke Blue Devils

Previous Ranking: 2
Duke will undergo a serious makeover this offseason but its future is still bright. The Blue Devils are expected to lose Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel and Khaman Maluach to the 2025 NBA Draft. Duke could also lose Tyrese Proctor to the draft.

Nonetheless, Duke has a powerhouse incoming freshman class to soften the blow of its losses. The group includes five-star prospect Cameron Boozer, along with three four-star recruits. With an extra addition or two in the portal, Duke will be on track to be a top team in the country again next season.

3. UConn Huskies

Previous Ranking: 4
It’s impossible to keep UConn away from the top of the college basketball totem pole for long and after losing in the Round of 32 this season, it’s safe to assume Huskies head coach Dan Hurley will be hungry for revenge next season. He hasn’t wasted any time in the transfer portal.

UConn has added two players in the transfer portal thus far this offseason. Most notably, the Huskies reeled in a commitment from Georgia‘s Silas Demary Jr., who was the No. 5 point guard to enter the transfer portal this offseason, according to On3’s 2025 Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

4. Purdue Boilermakers

Previous Ranking: 3
Sometimes the best gets are the ones you already have. On Monday, Purdue star Braden Smith announced he will be returning to the school for his final season. Smith is an All-American guard and will be the foundation for any success the Boilermakers have next season.

Of course, he can’t do it alone. In total, Purdue is expected to return five of its top six scorers from this past season. Moreover, Purdue received a transfer commitment from South Dakota State forward Oscar Cluff, who was one of the most sought-after big men in the portal early this spring.

5. BYU Cougars

Previous Ranking: 5
In just one year at the helm of BYU, Kevin Young turned the program into a premier destination for young talent. Most notably, the Cougars secured a commitment from the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, AJ Dybantsa.

Alas, Young didn’t stop there. BYU has two other incoming freshmen and has already picked up a pair of standouts in the transfer portal. Former Baylor guard Rob Wright will particularly play a large role for the Cougars next season.

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Previous Ranking: 14
Head coach Grant McCasland is building something special at Texas Tech. In just his season in the driver’s seat, McCasland led the Red Raiders to an Elite Eight. Now, he’s ready to take the program a step further.

He’ll have the pieces next season. JT Toppin, Christian Anderson and Federiko Federiko are expected to return. To pile on, they will be joined by multiple standout transfers, including LeJuan Watts, who was the No. 3 small forward in the transfer portal.

7. UCLA Bruins

Previous Ranking: 6
It was a frustrating season for the Bruins, who kicked off the season ranked in the AP Top 25 but ultimately failed to make the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend. Nevertheless, the Bruins should be back on top of the college basketball world next season.

The team is expected to return Tyler Bilodeau, Eric Dailey Jr. and Skyy Clark. Further, UCLA has added three standout transfers, including former New Mexico guard Donovan Dent. The 6-foot-2 star averaged over 20 points per game last season and is expected to be a potential All-American next season.

8. Arizona Wildcats

Previous Ranking: 7
Arizona was just seven points shy of reaching an Elite Eight this season. Evidently, several of the Wildcats aren’t satisfied with the Sweet Sixteen appearance. Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Motiejus Krivas and Anthony Dell’Orso are expected to return next season.

To pile on, Arizona has the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle. The group includes five-star freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. With so much talent on a single roster, Arizona will rightfully be one of the most feared teams in the country entering the 2025-26 campaign.

9. Michigan Wolverines

Previous Ranking: 8
Dusty May has been relentless in the transfer portal this offseason and his efforts have paid dividends. Michigan has the No. 1 transfer class in On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.

The Wolverines have hauled in four transfers thus far, all of which were listed as Top-15 players in the portal at their respective positions. However, nobody outshined UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, who is still the best player to enter the portal this offseason.

10. Iowa State Cyclones

Previous Ranking: 10
Iowa State only reached the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 this spring but the Cyclones will be back next season. They are expected to return three of their top five scorers: Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Tamin Lipsey.

Additionally, Cyclones head TJ Otzelberger has already folded in three highly-touted transfers. Fans can expect to see the new pieces assimilate into Otzelberger’s relentless defensive system while providing a spark on offense the Cyclones missed at times this season.

11. Florida
12. Auburn (+4)
13. St. John’s (-1)
14. Louisville (-1)
15. Kentucky
16. Michigan State (+1)
17. Oregon (+1)
18. Texas (+2)
19. Alabama (-10)
20. Kansas
21. Arkansas
22. Ohio State
23. Tennessee
24. North Carolina (+1)
25. Wisconsin (-1)
26. Gonzaga