Where Purdue Basketball Stands in Multiple Way-Too-Early Top 25 Rankings

Several media outlets have released way-too-early rankings for the 2026-27 season. Where does Purdue stand in each of these rankings?

Purdue Boilermakers guard Gicarri Harris (24) goes to the basket. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Purdue might be losing several key members from its 2025-26 roster, but it is still considered by most to be a top-25 program heading into next season. Multiple college basketball outlets have included the Boilermakers in their way-too-early rankings for the 2026-27 season.

Recently, Seth Davis (Hoops HQ), Gary Parrish (CBS Sports) and Jon Rothstein (FanDuel) provided updates to their top 25 rankings for next season. All three have Purdue ranked in their way-too-early polls as the deadline to enter the NCAA transfer portal winds down.

First, Davis has Purdue ranked No. 18 in his updated top 25 for next season. Parrish also as the Boilermakers listed as No. 18. Rothstein has Matt Painter's team ranked the lowest, putting them in at No. 21.

Purdue is coming off a season in which it finished 30-9, won the Big Ten Tournament and reached the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers are losing top scorers Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff from the 2025-26 roster.

Purdue is returning all scholarship players

The Purdue Boilermakers team bench reacts to a three-point shot. | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

What's the biggest reason for optimism in West Lafayette? Once again, it's retention. The Boilermakers bring back every scholarship player with eligibility remaining from last year's team, as well as multiple walk-ons. That group includes:

• Gicarri Harris (guard)
• C.J. Cox (guard)
• Omer Mayer (guard)
• Daniel Jacobsen (center)
• Raleigh Burgess (forward)
• Antione West Jr. (guard)
• Jack Benter (forward)
• Sam King (forward)
• Jace Rayl (guard)
• Jack Lusk (guard)

Additionally, the Boilermakers brought in 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year Caden Pierce, one of the top players on the transfer market. Painter and his staff also assembled a top-10 recruiting class, featuring four players:

• Sinan Huan (center)
• Rivers Knight (forward)
• Luke Ertel (guard)
• Jacob Webber (guard)

The combination of returning talent and incoming prospects has created a lot of excitement around the program, despite losing the combination of Smith, Loyer and Kaufman-Renn.

Ranking the Boilermakers

Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter talks. | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Where do the Boilers stand compared to other teams in these early rankings? Here's a look at each of those way-too-early rankings:

Seth Davis (Hoops HQ)

1. Michigan State
2. Illinois
3. UConn
4. Duke
5. Arizona
6. Michigan
7. Gonzaga
8. Iowa State
9. Virginia
10. Tennessee
11. Texas
12. Florida
13. Alabama
14. Houston
15. Arkansas
16. Louisville
17. Ohio State
18. Purdue
19. UCLA
20. Indiana
21. BYU
22. Missouri
23. Wisconsin
24. Nebraska
25. Kansas

Gary Parrish (CBS Sports)

1. Michigan
2. UConn
3. Florida
4. Illinois
5. Duke
6. Michigan State
7. Arkansas
8. Arizona
9. Texas
10. Gonzaga
11. Iowa State
12. Virginia
13. Houston
14. Alabama
15. USC
16. Tennessee
17. St. John's
18. Purdue
19. North Carolina
20. Louisville
21. Indiana
22. Miami
23. BYU
24. Nebraska
25. Ohio State

Jon Rothstein (FanDuel)

1. Michigan
2. Florida
3. UConn
4. Illinois
5. Arizona
6. Michigan State
7. Virginia
8. Texas
9. Arkansas
10. Duke
11. Houston
12. Gonzaga
13. Iowa State
14. Tennessee
15. Alabama
16. Indiana
17. USC
18. Miami
19. Louisville
20. North Carolina
21. Purdue
22. Ohio State
23. UCLA
24. BYU
25. Vanderbilt

Get top Boilermakers stories, expert analysis, and can't-miss moments straight to your inbox for free by signing up for the Purdue Boilermakers on SI newsletter!