The start of a new college basketball season always brings renewed energy and debate. Chloe Kitts is out of the season due to an ACL injury, whereas players like Azzi Fudd are expected to carry the legacy of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and more. But with high expectations comes disappointment, and the latest 2025-26 AP preseason poll has already stirred conversation.

Despite losing Paige Bueckers, defending champion UConn stayed firm at No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason women’s basketball poll. The Huskies claimed 27 of 31 first-place votes, while last season’s runner-up, South Carolina, followed closely at No. 2 with the remaining four. But it is Ohio that is craving attention, and here’s Week 1 full list that has shocked the Buckeyes fans.

If you were searching for Ohio on that list, it wasn’t even close to making it. Ohio received 46 points, even behind Washington, which had 79. After being a national top-10 fixture and a Big Ten contender over the last several years, the Ohio State women’s basketball team’s missing from the AP top 25 is questionable.

Yes, they lost top scorer Cotie McMahon to Mississippi in the portal, along with Taylor Thierry, Madison Greene, who were seniors. But they also have Kylee Kitts (Florida) and senior guard T’yana Todd (Boston College) coming in, along with freshmen guard Dasha Biriuk (ranked 83rd nationally by ESPN.com) and Bryn Martin. “I know who we lost and I know who we have… It is still a work in progress,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said.

Last season, they went 26-7 overall and 13-5 in Big Ten play, tying for third in the conference standings. They went to the second round in the NCAA tournament, where they were knocked out of the tournament by fifth-seeded Tennessee, 82-67. “Ohio State + Washington not in the poll is pretty shocking to me,” Talia Goodman wrote. However, this is a consistent pattern for the Buckeyes.

ESPN ranked them outside the top 25 College Basketball teams, the Big Ten Preseason rankings placed them 5th, and more importantly, coach Kevin McGuff admitted they are not currently top 25. “Where we’re at right now, I don’t know, maybe we aren’t top 25. But I like our team and our potential to get a lot better,” he said. But it’s not only Ohio State, which is upset; there is another program that would be unsatisfied with the rankings. The Kentucky Wildcats.

Kentucky Wildcats see a sharp dip, but aim to change the table

The Wildcats kicked off last season ranked 22nd in the preseason AP Poll, their lowest spot all year. Yet, they quickly surged, peaking at an impressive No. 8 in Week 14 after storming to a 19-2 record and scoring back-to-back wins against ranked foes No. 22 Alabama and No. 13 Oklahoma. That No. 8 ranking marked Northwestern’s highest AP Poll placement since 2016, signaling a major resurgence for the program. You can expect something similar this year.

Clara Strack, the reigning Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is a potential SEC Player of the Year, too. Last season, she averaged 15.4 points and 2.4 blocks per game along with 9.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Strack leads an experienced frontcourt, along with Amelia Hassett (8.6 points, 7.9 rebounds per game last season) and Teonni Key (11.4 points, 8.3 rebounds per game last season), that could be among the nation’s elite. Credit to the trio, the team finished first in blocks per game last year  (7.3).

Moving on to the backcourt, they have transfers Asia Boone, Josie Gilvin, and Tonie Morgan, with Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurova, who return from injury. Morgan’s experience will help their elite front court get some delivery. Morgan was projected as the ninth pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft by Women’s Hoops Masterclass. In her junior season, she averaged 13.7points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. “We will not stop until we become national champions,” coach Kenny Brooks has proclaimed. A talented squad, coupled with ambitions, means they could certainly punch up as far as the AP Poll is concerned.