Michigan's Back-to-Back Dream and 24 Other Teams Worth Watching in 2026-27

Michigan just won the national championship on Monday, beating UConn and cementing itself as one of the most dominant teams college basketball has seen in years. The Wolverines finished 37-3 and won 29 games by double digits this season while setting multiple NCAA tournament records. Now here's the thing: coach Dusty May gets to reload and potentially run it back. That's where the fun starts.

The Reigning Champs Have a Real Shot at Repeating

Michigan opens our Way-Too-Early Top 25 at number one, and honestly, they have a legitimate chance to go back-to-back if their frontcourt stars make the right calls. Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. both entered the tournament projected in the late first round of the NBA draft, but their high-level performances in March could change everything. If they return, watch out. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney are expected to stick around, and incoming five-star recruit Brandon McCoy should slot in on the perimeter. That's a scary good lineup for the 2026-27 season.

The Portal Opens Soon and Everything Could Shift

Here's the reality: these rankings are about to get messy. The transfer portal opens in literally hours, and we're already in the thick of NBA draft decisions, coaching changes, and the whole offseason shuffle. Our house rules have evolved too. Late first-round picks could go either way now thanks to NIL deals and revenue share agreements making it worth players' while to stick around. Any player projected outside the first round is factored in as a returnee for now. So grab these rankings while they're hot because they're only 209 days away from the first game of 2026-27, and rosters are about to get flipped upside down. Duke rolls in at number two, and yeah, there's flux there too.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.