ESPN high on Iowa basketball in way-too-early 2026-27 top 25 rankings

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The confetti is still falling in Indianapolis from the Michigan Wolverines' national championship win over the UConn Huskies, but for 363 other teams, the chapter has been flipped to the 2026-27 season. The Iowa Hawkeyes are already full steam ahead towards next year, looking to capitalize on serious momentum in the program.

After a run to the Elite 8, the Hawkeyes showed they can be a presence in the Big Ten with Ben McCollum at the helm, who figures to be in Iowa City for quite some time after he reportedly declined an interview with the North Carolina Tar Heels, one of college basketball's blue bloods.

The momentum from this year, paired with McCollum's pedigree, has ESPN high on the Hawkeyes for the 2026-27 college basketball season, placing them just in the way-too-early top 25 rankings at No. 25.

25. Iowa Hawkeyes

For the first time in four years -- at three different schools -- coach Ben McCollum will enter the season without Bennett Stirtz as his starting point guard. Sure, McCollum had Division II success before Stirtz entered the fold, and he has been a winner at every spot regardless of personnel. But there will be an adjustment given how ball-dominant and high-usage Stirtz was in McCollum's system. What will help is that most of the Hawkeyes' rotation could return, including NCAA tournament contributors Alvaro Folgueiras, Tate Sage and Cooper Koch.

Projected starting lineup

Kael Combs (6.2 PPG)Tate Sage (5.6 PPG)Cooper Koch (7.8 PPG)Alvaro Folgueiras (8.5 PPG)Cam Manyawu (6.9 PPG) - Jeff Borzello, ESPN

For Iowa to take this step, the moves are right in front of them. The Hawkeyes have to replenish Bennett Stirtz with a strong point guard and add some true size on the interior to bring a rim protector to the roster. Iowa's willingness to spend in the transfer portal is clear, as evidenced by reports that they could near the $10 million mark.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : ESPN high on Iowa basketball in way-too-early 2026-27 top 25 rankings

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