Kansas and UCLA surge up college basketball power rankings after early upsets

The 2026-27 college basketball season has produced seven matchups between ranked teams in its first ten days. This early schedule has forced a complete reshuffling of the national power rankings. Kansas and UCLA have emerged as the biggest risers, securing notable wins over Kentucky and Arizona, respectively. Meanwhile, UConn and Michigan State have established themselves as immediate contenders for the national championship.

Kansas, previously ranked 19th in the preseason, defeated Kentucky 89-69 at the Champions Classic in Chicago on November 10. The Jayhawks' victory was fueled by the addition of Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn. The team recorded 24 assists on 32 made baskets and outscored the Wildcats by 22 points off turnovers. Coach Bill Self has assembled a roster that resembles his 2021-22 championship team, provided all players remain eligible and healthy.

UCLA, which entered the season at No. 24, beat Arizona 84-75 on November 2. The Bruins have found a star in Serbian freshman Nikola Kusturica, who scored 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting against North Florida. Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty also contributes, averaging 17 points and 4.3 assists while shooting nearly 48% from three-point range. Coach Mick Cronin is fielding an offense that may be the best of his career, blending these new additions with returnees Trent Perry and Eric Dailey.

Michigan State defeated Duke 79-73 in the same Chicago event, cementing its position as a top-tier team. Sophomore forward Jordan Scott, who scored just five points in a previous loss, dominated the game against the Blue Devils. Scott recorded nine defensive rebounds, six blocked shots, and two steals. Duke coach Jon Scheyer noted that Scott significantly impacted the outcome. The loss marked the first time since the 2023-24 season that Duke was not leading or within one possession in the final minute of a contest.

Florida remains at No. 1, having defeated Florida State 81-72 on November 10. Coach Todd Golden has settled on an eight-man rotation, with his starters and reserves Urban Klavzar, Domen Petrovic, and Isaiah Brown accounting for nearly all playing time in recent games. UConn sits at No. 2 after beating Michigan 85-77. Senior guard Silas Demary Jr. is averaging 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, while Braylon Mullins has scored at least 20 points in his first two outings.

Legal disputes are affecting player eligibility in the early season. Arizona is awaiting a decision on forward RJ Godfrey. Kansas and Texas Tech relied on players who were cleared to play via injunctions or temporary restraining orders. Texas Tech defeated Illinois 84-78 on November 10, with guards Cruz Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn combining for 35 points and eight assists. The Red Raiders won despite receiving minimal offensive production from Darrion Williams, who averages 3.7 points.

Illinois, currently No. 9, struggled against Texas Tech. The Illini shot 77% from two-point range but turned the ball over 16 times. Their 1.05 points per possession was their third-lowest mark in the previous season. Duke, at No. 6, shot 26% from the field in the first half of its loss to Michigan State, the worst first-half shooting percentage in the Jon Scheyer era.

Texas and St. John's round out the top 10. Texas forward Matas Vokietaitis is averaging 21.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting over 79% from the field. St. John's guard Quinn Ellis has totaled 27 assists, 12 steals, and only two turnovers in three games. Virginia is 4-0, with Nolan Adekunle averaging 13.5 points in his past two contests.

The next week will test these early standings. The Players Era 8 tournament will be held in Las Vegas. On-campus matchups include Illinois at Duke, Michigan State at Tennessee, and UConn at Arizona. Florida will face Notre Dame in Las Vegas, while Texas plays Baylor in San Antonio. These games will likely result in further changes to the rankings.