Here’s a summary of Joe Lunardi’s early assessment of the power conferences in college basketball for the 2025-26 season, formatted for readability and including key takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Early Gauge: This is a premature, but insightful, look at the power conferences just days into the season.
- Champion Focus: The rankings are based on which conference is most likely to produce the 2026 national champion.
- Big Ten’s Potential: Despite the SEC’s recent dominance, the Big Ten is favored to produce the national champion this year.
- SEC’s Regression?: The SEC is expected to still be very strong, but a slight regression in bids is expected after the team’s ridiculous 2024-2025 NCAA tournament.
- ACC’s Rebound: The ACC is looking to improve after recent struggles, hoping to send more teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Conference Power Rankings – 2025-2026 College Basketball
Joe Lunardi offers his initial assessment of the college basketball power conferences, focusing on which is most likely to produce the 2026 national champion. Rather than solely relying on projected NCAA Tournament bids and seeding, this approach considers the overall potential for a conference to deliver a championship-winning team.
1. Big Ten
The Big Ten takes the top spot due to the presence of several potential Final Four contenders. Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois are highlighted as teams with the star power and potential to make deep tournament runs, especially with the Final Four being held in Indianapolis, potentially giving the conference a home-court advantage. Lunardi sticks to his preseason pick of Michigan to make the deep run. While the SEC might produce better overall numbers, the Big Ten is poised to trade some of that quantity for quality at the top of the bracket. Lunardi’s ‘Game of the Year’ is Illinois at Purdue on January 24th.
2. SEC
Coming off a historic season that saw the conference send a record 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament and ultimately crown the champion, the SEC remains a powerhouse. Florida’s ambition to achieve back-to-back titles is a key factor in the SEC’s high ranking. However, Lunardi isn’t quite sold on any single team being a clear "cut down the nets" favorite. He acknowledges the likelihood of numerous Final Four-caliber teams. The shift in the pendulum of power suggests that repeating last season’s overwhelming success may be difficult. Lunardi’s ‘Game of the Year’ is Florida at Kentucky on March 7th.
3. Big 12
The Big 12 is experiencing a slight shift, with recent additions like Houston, Arizona, and BYU emerging as Final Four contenders. Traditional powerhouses like Kansas and Baylor have experienced mini-slides, contributing to the conference losing its top spot. However, Lunardi notes that if Kansas returns to form, the Big 12 could quickly reclaim its dominance. He also appreciates the unique atmosphere of late Big 12 games on Monday nights. Lunardi’s ‘Game of the Year’ is Houston at Kansas on February 23rd.
4. Big East
The Big East is revitalized by emerging rivalries, particularly between UConn and St. John’s. Both teams have the talent to make deep tournament runs, fueled by coaches with national championship experience. Lunardi enjoys the increased friction in the conference after the era of Villanova’s widespread popularity. He also highlights the need for programs like Villanova, Seton Hall, and Georgetown to end their respective NCAA Tournament droughts. Lunardi’s ‘Game of the Year’ is UConn at St. John’s on February 6th.
5. ACC
The ACC is looking to rebound after a period of underperformance. Duke remains a legitimate national championship contender, while Louisville is emerging as a team to watch. Lunardi believes the ACC has "hit bottom" and anticipates a growing number of bubble teams, potentially exceeding its projected number of NCAA Tournament bids. The ACC hasn’t sent at least half its team to the big dance since 2018. Lunardi’s ‘Game of the Year’ is Duke at Louisville on January 6th.
