Duke comes in at No. 2 in early college basketball poll prediction

Duke spent most of the 2025-26 season near or at the top of the rankings, finishing the regular season 29-2, including 17-1 in the ACC.

Even with the departures of Wooden Award winner Cameron Boozer and sharpshooter Isaiah Evans, Jon Scheyer’s squad expects to stay high in both polls to start next season, and with Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba returning along with the arrivals of transfer John Blackwell and incoming 5-star recruits Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard, the Blue Devils are looking at another great season.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp recently released his way-too-early top 25 for the 2026-27 season, and of course, you don’t have to stroll far to find Duke at No. 2.

Goldkamp brings up the return of Foster and Ngongba as key for Scheyer’s squad, as well as the arrival of Williams, who brings yet another star freshman to Durham. The Blue Devils are loaded, and the starting lineup should be among the top in the country, while the bench could very well start at many Power 4 schools.

Here are Goldkamp's top 25:

1. Florida
2. Duke