College basketball season starts with eligibility uncertainty
New tier lists place 75 teams into 11 groups, separating clear title favorites from squads waiting on court decisions to play.
By Elena Perry ·
The 2026-27 men's college basketball season begins with a different kind of uncertainty than in previous years. Instead of simple ranking debates, teams are grouped by their current status and legal challenges. The season officially starts in November, but the landscape is already shifting due to ongoing lawsuits regarding player eligibility.
ESPN analysts Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf divided 75 teams into 11 distinct tiers for the new season. This approach allows for flexibility that a standard 1 to 25 ranking does not provide. The tiers range from national championship favorites to mid-major clubs that might win a single game in the NCAA tournament. A specific category was created for teams with players in legal limbo.
Three teams sit at the top of the hierarchy as the primary title contenders. Florida returns four starters from its 2025 national championship team, including Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon. Duke brings back four key players and adds John Blackwell, the top guard in the transfer portal. Illinois retained five key players and added recruit Quentin Coleman. All three programs have proven depth and recent success.
The second tier contains Final Four contenders that may not reach the championship stage. Arizona has Motiejus Krivas, the Big 12 preseason player of the year, and Caleb Holt, a projected top-five NBA draft pick. UConn signed Braylon Mullins to a new name, image and likeness deal. Texas added Marcus Spears Jr., the number one recruit in the 2027 class. Michigan State has Jeremy Fears Jr., a potential Wooden Award winner, but lost its frontcourt duo.
Eligibility lawsuits are the defining factor for the fourth tier. Hundreds of players do not have a definitive answer on their status. Texas Tech and St. John's are at the top of this group. If their pending players are cleared to play, both teams are legitimate Final Four threats. Texas Tech is waiting on decisions for Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell. St. John's is awaiting rulings for Keyshawn Hall, Babacar Sane and Reed Bailey.
Other teams in the eligibility limbo tier include Gonzaga, BYU, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and LSU. For LSU, the situation is complex. Recent decisions cleared international additions Michael Ruzic and Saliou Niang. UCLA transfers Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark were granted a preliminary injunction. Former St. John's star RJ Luis Jr. is not likely to play for the Tigers. These legal outcomes will determine the ceiling and floor for these programs.
The third tier consists of teams that can make a second weekend appearance in the tournament. Kansas is a prime example. Its roster depends on whether Trey Kaufman-Renn is eligible for a sixth year. If he and returning starters Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White are cleared, the Jayhawks have a top-10 roster. If not, the weight falls on number one recruit Tyran Stokes. Other teams in this group include Louisville, Missouri, Miami and Kentucky.
The bottom of the tier list includes Cinderella stories and teams with outlier potential. These groups represent the full spectrum of the season's possibilities. The legal proceedings are not just background noise; they directly impact which players step on the court in November.
