In Reply to: Comparing rosters posted by mh on July 29, 2026 at 11:49:35
However, I think there's a little more volatility this year than there was last season. Last year, it felt pretty clear that Michigan and Purdue were going to be among the best teams in the country. This year, I'm not as convinced about Michigan State or Illinois. They should both be good, but I wouldn't be surprised if either one ended up in that second tier rather than at the top.
It also wouldn't shock me if there isn't much separation between your top two tiers at all. We could end up with a conference where several teams are closely grouped together and no one clearly stands above the rest.
My only other eyebrow raising rank is Oregon. I just don't see it. Dana Altman is too good of a coach. He's had some tough breaks over the past few years, but once again he's assembled an outstanding transfer class. In many ways, he was ahead of everyone else when it came to building through the transfer portal, so if anyone can get a roster full of newcomers to come together quickly, it's him. The Ducks have some elite talent, including former Kentucky and Duke players, along with a five-star freshman. They also have a number of proven defenders and complementary role players who should give them the toughness and depth that Altman's best teams are known for. That's a roster with a very high ceiling, and I wouldn't be surprised if Oregon ends up finishing much closer to the top of the league than where most preseason projections have them. I get it tho, the last couple of years were supposed to be different as well. If he finishes where you have him, he will definitely not be coaching Oregon next year.