After an offseason filled with court cases with unresolved outcomes for dozens of players fighting for a fifth year of eligibility, the 2026-27 college basketball season is finally here. For the rest of the season, actual basketball games will be the focus in the coming days and weeks. Twenty of the AP’s top 25 preseason teams will be in action on Monday, including two ranked matchups that will set the table for what should be a season full of intriguing storylines. Florida enters the season ranked No. 1 and seeking its second title in three years, but will be tested early against the state’s No. 14 foe, Miami, in Tampa. One of the final games of the night will see an old Pac-12 rivalry renewed as No. 5 Arizona takes on No. 22 UCLA in Las Vegas. That game will represent the debuts of two of the best freshmen in the sport: Arizona’s Caleb Holt and UCLA’s Nikola Kusturica. Last season, Arizona defeated UCLA in a thrilling faceoff in Los Angeles. Notre Dame rallies to defeat Villanova in Eternal City opener in glorious college basketball season opener Isaac Trotter Other teams in action include No. 15 Gonzaga against Purdue, No. 18 Iowa State against Memphis and Ohio State taking on No. 15 BYU. All three games will be played at neutral sites. Let the games (and the season!) begin. All times ET No. 5 Arizona at No. 22 UCLA (in Las Vegas) 10 p.m. on TNT: Arizona is a little shorthanded without hurting forward RJ Godfrey, who is still stuck in 5-on-5 legal purgatory, but the Big Three of Caleb Holt, Ivan Kharchenkov and big man Mo Krivas are extremely intimidating. Arizona’s guards are much bigger than UCLA’s, and the Bruins won’t have much of an answer for Mount Krivas in the paint. But this UCLA team is not far behind. Texas Tech transfer guard Jaylen Petty is an absolute player, and prized 17-year-old freshman Nikola Kusturica is a high-motor wing who may be the best prospect in the world. Forward Eric Dailey Jr. is also a tough opponent for Arizona’s short frontcourt. Plus, UCLA coach Mick Cronin knows he has to speed up the game to limit Arizona’s powerful transition attack. Six of the last seven matchups between Cronin and Tommy Lloyd have finished in the mid-60s from a possession standpoint. If Arizona wants to win, it will have to do so on Cronin’s terms. The under is easily the best play on the board here, but we are also forced to choose a side. I’m leaning toward UCLA because they have their full arsenal. Arizona does not. Pick: UCLA +4.5 – Trotter No. 14 Miami vs. No. 1 Florida (Tampa) 6 pm on ESPN, Fubo (try it for free): The key matchup to watch is how Miami’s frontcourt stacks up against Florida’s, arguably the best trio (Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon) in the nation. Will Malik Reneau and Somto Cyril be able to limit the damage? If so, this game will be close down the stretch. Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis looked incredible for Miami during their exhibition games. He has a chance to be a real star this season. I choose Florida to win, but Miami to cover. Pick: Miami +5.5 – Cameron Salerno Memphis vs. No. 18 Iowa State (in Sioux Falls) 7 pm on FS1, Fubo (try free): Memphis big man Nemanja Popovic has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA for the first six games. That’s important because the 24-year-old Serbian looks like Penny Hardaway’s best player. His play would have been critical against an Iowa State defense that catches early and often. That forces Memphis bigs like Corneilous Williams and Maxim Logue into bigger roles, and both aren’t very accurate playmakers. Iowa State will be without defensive guard Killyan Toure (injured shoulder), but fifth-year senior guard Tamin Lipsey is eligible to play. His playmaking and ball-selling defense help make Lipsey one of the top 10 players in the country by some statistical-based metrics. Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger is also elite against the numbers in non-conference games (43-29-1 since taking over at Iowa State). But I’m starting to think Iowa State is a little overrated right now. Sixth in KenPom? That’s rich. Life without Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic won’t be easy at first. This Iowa State offense will need time to gel with so many new faces taking on bigger roles than ever. I’m optimistic about the Cyclones becoming a great defensive team, but they may not fire on all cylinders right away in a fight-filled scheme that isn’t easy to master right away. Memphis is also ranked outside the top 100 thanks to Bart Torvik. I think it’s closer to a top 70 unit. Take the points. If Memphis doesn’t turn it over 20 times, he will stay within this number. Selection: Memphis +13.5 – Isaac Trotter No. 15 Gonzaga vs. Purdue (Las Vegas) 7:30 pm on TNT: Gonzaga can give this Purdue defense a lot of problems. Purdue has a useful big man right now in Daniel Jacobsen. Gonzaga has three of the best bigs in the country: Braden Huff, Massamba Diop and Izan Almansa. That math is not math. I think Purdue’s offense should find a better rhythm against a Gonzaga team that isn’t as physical as the UConn defense that completely gutted the Boilermakers in last week’s exhibition laugher. Gonzaga will likely play a little more drop coverage, and Purdue has a cavalry of guards who can drain jumpers. Purdue is clearly the better shooting team, but Gonzaga has many more avenues to create better shooting with its trio of elite bigs and future NBA wing Davis Fogle. Take the Zags. They will have the two best players on the court (Huff and Fogle). Pick: Gonzaga -4.5 – Trotter Ohio State vs. No. 25 BYU (in Salt Lake City) 9 pm on FS1, Fubo (try it for free) – This has the potential to be the best game of the night. Without AJ Dybantsa, it will be a new chapter at BYU. However, the Cougars retained star guard Robert Wright III, added another five-star wing in Bruce Branch III and landed former Michigan State big man Jaxon Kohler, who is one of dozens of players hoping for a fifth year. Although I think Ohio State will have a good season, BYU wins this game. I’ll also keep an eye on Ohio State five-star forward Anthony Thompson. His play will determine Ohio State’s ceiling this year. Pick: BYU -2.5 – Salerno
