Illinois men's basketball starts season No. 3 in AP preseason poll
Ranking ties the program's second-best preseason spot; the Illini play their first home exhibition Friday vs. Baylor
CHAMPAIGN - Illinois will begin the 2026-27 men's basketball season ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25, Illinois Athletics announced Monday. Only the 1984-85 team, which opened at No. 2, started higher; the 2001-02 Illini also began at No. 3, the program's all-time list shows.
It is the 22nd preseason ranking in program history and the sixth in seven seasons under coach Brad Underwood, according to the release. Illinois is coming off a 28-9 season that included its first Final Four trip in 21 years.
Four other Big Ten teams are ranked: Michigan State at No. 6, Michigan at No. 16, USC at No. 21 and UCLA at No. 22. Illinois' nonconference schedule includes No. 2 Duke, No. 4 UConn and No. 19 Texas Tech, the release says.
The Illini play their first game at the State Farm Center at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, an exhibition against Baylor. The regular season opens Nov. 2 at home against FDU, according to the team's schedule.
Source: Illinois Athletics, "Illini Ranked No. 3 in AP Preseason Poll," https://fightingillini.com/news/2026/10/19/mens-basketball-illini-ranked-no-3-in-ap-preseason-poll