IRVING, Texas – The Associated Press released its Preseason Top 25 Monday and six Big 12 Conference schools will begin the 2026-27 season in the rankings.
 
Defending Big 12 Champion Arizona (No. 5) will open the season as the league’s highest-ranked team. The Wildcats are followed by Houston (No. 10), Kansas (No. 17), Iowa State (No. 18), Texas Tech (No. 19) and BYU (No. 25). TCU also received votes in the initial AP Top 25.
 
Since expanding to 16 schools ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Big 12 has boasted at least six schools in every AP Preseason Top 25 poll. With Arizona and Houston both entering the year in the top-10 of the rankings, the Big 12 extended its streak of multiple teams in the preseason top 10 to seven consecutive seasons.
 
The 2026-27 Monster Energy Big 12 Men’s Basketball season opens on Monday, Nov. 2 with 15 of the league’s 16 teams in action.