With the transfer portal open, predicting what teams will look like next year is quite a tough task. Predicting how molding new talent together will perform is an even harder task for those who try.
Any look at the top 25 for the 2026-27 college basketball season is a lot of guesswork, but it can be done. CBS Sports took a look at the best teams ahead of next year, and the Iowa Hawkeyes are among them, based on the roster that looks set to return to Iowa City.
In their way-too-early top 25, the Hawkeyes are slotting in at No. 21.
21. Iowa
This ranking is based on the Hawkeyes returning six of the top eight scorers — specifically Alvaro Folgueiras, Cooper Koch, Cam Manyawu, Kael Combs, Tate Sage and Isaia Howard — from a team that finished 24-13 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by four-star prospect Ethan Harris and three-star prospect Jaidyn Coon. – Gary Parrish, CBS Sports
Ben McCollum is active in the transfer portal, as Iowa needs to add some help down low and replenish the guard position with the departure of Bennett Stirtz.
With Alvaro Folgueiras weighing his options of returning to Iowa after becoming a legend in the basketball program or exploring his options via the portal, Iowa is returning a solid core for Ben McCollum in Year 2 and figures to take strides forward.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa basketball sitting nicely in CBS Sports’ way-too-early top 25
Reporting by Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
