United States of College Basketball: Ranking the best team in each state for the 2026-27 season

It's an annual rite of late October. When you see a map of the United States filled in with 50 college logos, you know the games are just about to begin.

Welcome back to geography class, where we've once again redefined the fiefdoms across men's college basketball. This preseason feature started as a one-off in 2015 and has published every October since. Although there are some states that never change on account having just one D-I program (Hawaii, Maine, Vermont, Wyoming), every year the map is unique. There's never been the same 50 logos in this project.

In 2026, we've got nine changes from last year — including one of the best rivalries in the sport seeing a logo flip for the first time in the history of this feature. I couldn't believe it, but I went back and fact-checked it and it's true. Which state am I referring to? You'll have to scroll down to find out.

Every state is represented except for Alaska. The Last Frontier still does not have a Division I basketball program. The majority of emblems you see on the map above will also be included in the 2027 men's NCAA Tournament. And as always…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/