Houston men’s basketball program will begin the 2025-26 season ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason poll, marking its highest preseason ranking since 1967-68. Under the leadership of Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars earned 16 first-place votes, trailing only Purdue, which claimed 35 first-place votes.
This is just the second time in school history that Houston has opened a season ranked No. 2. The Cougars squad from 58 years ago, led by Elvin Hayes, held a top-two position throughout the season.
The Cougars also extended their nation-leading streak to 107 consecutive weeks in the AP poll, a run that began in January 2020. They have been ranked for at least one week in each of the last nine seasons, tying the program record set from 1966 to 1975.
Last year, Houston began at No. 4 and finished No. 2 after advancing to the National Championship Gamep. It was the program’s seventh Final Four appearance and second under Sampson. The Cougars swept the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, setting a conference record with a 19-1 league mark and finishing 35-4 overall.
Houston returns three key starters, Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, and Joseph Tugler, and adds a top-ranked recruiting class featuring Chris Cenac Jr., Isiah Harwell, and Kingston Flemings.
The Cougars open their 2025-26 campaign with The Preview CBB Exhibition against Mississippi State on Oct. 26, before officially tipping off the regular season versus Lehigh on Nov. 3 at Fertitta Center, as Sampson eyes his 800th career victory.
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