Golfweek's 2025-26 men's college golf preseason team rankings

Summer is in the rearview mirror, and college golf's 2025-26 season is here. That means it's time to rank the teams heading into the season.

The chase to win the NCAA Men's Golf Championship is on. Next spring, the championships will again be held at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, the third year of what is now essentially a five-year contract.

Last year, Oklahoma State captured its 12th national championship in school history, knocking off Virginia 3-2 in the match-play final to win the title. The Cowboys return all five starters from the championship team and have one of the top-ranked freshman in the country in its repertoire now, too. Virginia also returns its best players from the runner-up squad.

Here's a look at Golfweek's 2025-26 women's college golf preseason rankings.

Golfweek's 2025-26 men's college golf preseason rankings

1 - Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State returns all five starters from its championship squad, and the Cowboys didn't cool off over the summer. Junior Ethan Fang won the British Amateur Championship at Royal St. George's while fellow junior Preston Stout, who had won the individual Big 12 title in back-to-back years, won medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur. Both are on the U.S. Walker Cup team, too. Don't overlook junior Eric Lee or incoming freshman Henry Guan, either.

2 - Virginia

As mentioned above, Virginia returns all five players who competed in the championship match in May. The face of the Cavaliers, however, is Ben James, the senior who enters his final college season ranked first in the PGA Tour University Class of 2026 rankings. He's primed for a big year, but so, too, are Bryan Lee, Paul Chang and Josh Duangmanee. Virginia is beyond primed to make another deep run.

3 - Texas

Texas will once again be in the national championship conversation, and it begins with its trio of seniors Christiaan Maas, Tommy Morrison and sophomore Daniel Bennett. Maas and Morrison have guided the Longhorns the past three seasons while Bennett won the Phil Mickelson Award for Freshman of the Year last season. Luke Potter, Jack Gilbert and transfer Matt Comegys are also expected to contribute.

4 - Auburn

World No. 1 and former Haskins winner Jackson Koivun returns, and he's likely to have another incredible season as he has his first two for the Tigers. Also returning are Cayden Pope and Josiah Gilbert, but who's going to fill the gaps from the departing seniors? Look to sophomore Billy Davis, who had a strong summer, and Logan Reilly, one of the top incoming freshmen in the country, to make an impact.

5 - Florida

Florida has one of the deepest rosters in the country, with all nine of its players having the capability to contribute. Junior Luke Poulter has found his groove in 2025, and Jack Turner and Parker Bell have also contributed plenty in the past. Junior Noah Kent, the 2024 U.S. Amateur runner-up, is expected to make his debut after sitting out the spring, and could freshmen Joshua Bai or Trevor Gutschewski contribute early? A lot, and I mean a lot, of options for J.C. Deacon and Co.

6 - Ole Miss

Ole Miss had one of its best seasons in school history last season, and it came to fruition when senior Michael La Sasso won the NCAA individual title at Omni La Costa. He cooled off a bit over the summer, but expect him to round into form as the season progresses. Cameron Tankersley and Cohen Trolio are also expected to be big contributors, as is Tom Fischer, as the Rebels look to make it back to match play at NCAAs.

7 - LSU

LSU has plenty of motivation coming into the 2025-26 season after failing to advance past NCAA Regionals as a No. 1 seed last season. Sophomore Arni Sveinsson looks to be one of college golf's best players, and Matthew Dodd-Berry, Jay Mendell and Aldred Bondesson also return. Incoming freshman Dan Hayes has high praise from coach Jake Amos and could find his way into the lineup early.

8 - Arizona State

Arizona State won the stroke-play portion of the NCAA Championship last year but fell in the quarterfinals against Ole Miss. Senior Michael Mjaaseth and junior Connor Williams return and will have big shoes to fill after the departure of veteran and experienced seniors Josele Ballester and Preston Summerhays departed, but Fifa Laopakdee and Peer Wernicke are ready for increased roles, too, as are the incoming freshmen.

9 - Oklahoma

Senior Jase Summy, who will be on the U.S. Walker Cup team, is the face of the Sooners, while Ryder Cowan and Clark Van Gaalen also looked primed for major contributing roles. Junior PJ Maybank III also played in nine events last season. Who else is going to step up for Ryan Hybl's team? There are numerous freshmen and a couple sophomores vying to impress early, but there's no question the Sooners are going to field another strong team.

10 - Illinois

If we know anything about Mike Small's Illinois teams, they're going to be ready to compete come the postseason. Max Herendeen and Ryan Voois return to the lineup after both contributing plenty over the past couple seasons. But a name to watch is transfer Dane Huddleston from Utah Valley, a third-team All-America selection last season who could break out playing for the Illini in 2025-26.

Nos. 11-30

• 11 - Florida State
• 12 - BYU
• 13 - Vanderbilt
• 14 - Tennessee
• 15 - SMU
• 16 - Alabama
• 17 - Georgia Tech
• 18 - North Carolina
• 19 - Texas Tech
• 20 - South Carolina
• 21 - Georgia
• 22 - Pepperdine
• 23 - Duke
• 24 - Arizona
• 25 - Utah
• 26 - Colorado
• 27 - Louisville
• 28 - Mississippi State
• 29 - New Mexico
• 30 - Long Beach State