The first AP poll of the 2026-2027 college basketball season was released on Monday afternoon.
IU basketball is outside the AP Top 25 to begin the season. However, the Hoosiers received eight votes in the poll. They are effectively No. 36.
Indiana’s two exhibition victories, especially their dominant showing against UNC at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, gave fans and voters optimism heading into the season.
Big Ten teams ranked in the AP Top 25 include: No. 3 Illinois, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 16 Michigan, No. 21 USC and No. 22 UCLA. The Florida Gators are the AP No. 1.
Big Ten teams outside of IU that received votes in the AP poll include: Nebraska (70), Purdue (53), Ohio State (39), and Iowa (12).
Non-conference opponents for IU this season that are ranked in the AP poll include: No. 12 Arkansas and No. 23 Kentucky. Those two games will take place three days apart, both at neutral sites: Arkansas at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 17, and Kentucky at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Nov. 20.
IU will also face the Missouri on Dec. 18 in Bloomington, and the Tigers received 167 votes in the AP poll, the most for any team not ranked in the Top 25.
The Hoosiers will play their final exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 25, against Western Kentucky in Evansville, Indiana. Tip is at 4 p.m. Eastern and will be televised on Big Ten Plus.
