We're getting to the time of year where sporting networks begin to reveal their preseason rankings for the approaching men's college basketball season. One of the first major groups to do so this year was the Field of 68.
The Field of 68 is a media network that is operated and supported by many of college basketball's top media personalities, former players, and writers. From the network, Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster are responsible for compiling the 2025-26 preseason rankings.
In these rankings, they give a projected starting lineup, provide an analysis and explanation for each mentioned team, and also grade the offseason for the entire top 25.
When it comes to KU, the Field of 68 slid them in at #16. The projected starting lineup they provided is the following:
A starting five that has many unknowns always warrants a bit of uncertainty, and that is why the Jayhawks are ranked lower than they had been in previous seasons. It seems as people might be hesitant to rank Kansas so highly in the preseason poll given they have had an underwhelming past two seasons, both of which they started as the preseason #1 team in the AP Poll. Nonetheless, the potential for this group is absolutely through the roof.
KU may not start the season at the top, but they certainly have a team that can get them there if they mesh properly and execute in big moments. It also doesn't hurt to have a guy like Bill Self pulling the strings.
Here is what the Field of 68 had to say about the new-look Jayhawk squad, and their aspirations for the season:
"The last two seasons haven’t lived up to Kansas standards: 21-17 in Big 12 play from a coach in Bill Self who had dominated the league for a decade prior. The hope is that this team can get back to winning the league, and it’ll all start with Peterson – who is as talented of a guard as there is in the entire country. He’s long, skilled, athletic, versatile and could be the No. 1 overall pick. Bidunga is back and gives Kansas an athletic, shot-blocking, hard-playing big man. The key is whether the transfers: Council (St. Bonaventure), Dawson (Loyola Chicago) and White (Illinois) are enough around those two guys, and whether this team can make enough shots as a group from the perimeter. It feels as though there may be too much on Peterson, and that he may have to be a first-team All-American in order for KU to be back as one of the elite teams in the country again. But it’s also tough to question a team with arguably the best coach in America and possibly the best player in the country."
Ultimately, the Jayhawks were given the offseason grade of a B- by the Field of 68. Similar to this media network, many seem to believe that Bill Self is relying too heavily on the freshman phenom, Darryn Peterson. Only time will tell if this ends up being the case or not, but one thing is clear, and it is that the Hall of Fame coach appears to genuinely trust the #1 player in the country.
Big 12 opponents Houston (#2), Texas Tech (#9), and BYU (#11) were all ranked higher than KU in these rankings. On the flip side, Arizona (#17) and Iowa State (#18) were slotted just below them.
We will now be obligated to wait and see how the Field of 68 rankings compare to the official AP Poll when it releases sometime in October.
Less than two months away from tipoff, college basketball is soon to be in full swing. That means the preseason news, rankings, and stories are only to become more abundant in the coming weeks.