CBS Sports has published its annual "United States of College Basketball" feature, ranking the projected best Division I men's basketball team in each state for the 2026-27 season. The preseason project, which began in 2015, includes 50 states with Alaska remaining the only state without a Division I program. This year's map features nine changes from the previous edition.
Notable State Rankings and Changes
For the first time in the feature's history, Louisville claims the top spot in Kentucky, edging out Kentucky Wildcats. Louisville Cardinals, under coach Pat Kelsey, are projected to outperform Mark Pope's Wildcats based on metrics and human polls, though both programs rank among the highest in roster spending.
In Alabama, the Crimson Tide are favored over Auburn with a projected top-five SEC finish and a fourth consecutive 25-plus-win season. Arizona Wildcats, coming off a school-record 36-win season, remain comfortably ahead of Arizona State and Grand Canyon in the state.
Florida Gators enter as preseason No. 1 nationally and lead the Sunshine State ahead of Miami and Florida State. In Colorado, Colorado State Rams narrowly beat out Colorado Buffaloes, with CSU returning five of its top seven scorers and joining the revived Pac-12 conference.
Key Storylines Across the Country
UConn Huskies maintain dominance in Connecticut as a preseason top-six team for a fourth straight year, while Michigan State Spartans take over the state of Michigan with preseason National Player of the Year candidate Jeremy Fears Jr. at point guard.
Texas Longhorns reclaim the top spot in Texas for the first time in over five years under Sean Miller, narrowly ahead of Houston Cougars. In the Carolinas, Duke Blue Devils lead North Carolina while Clemson Tigers top South Carolina with three straight 24-win seasons.
The feature notes that the majority of selected teams are projected to make the expanded 76-team 2027 NCAA Tournament. Several states feature tight competitions, including Wisconsin where Marquette Golden Eagles edge Wisconsin Badgers, and Iowa where Iowa State Cyclones lead over Iowa Hawkeyes.
