Opening night puts 20 preseason AP Top 25 teams in action, including two ranked matchups. Florida faces Miami, while Arizona meets UCLA in a renewed rivalry; other marquee games include Gonzaga-Purdue, Iowa State-Memphis and BYU-Ohio State. The slate offers an early test of contenders—and a first look at high-profile freshmen Caleb Holt and Nikola Kusturica.

By the Numbers
  • 20 preseason AP Top 25 teams play Monday.
  • Florida is ranked No. 1; Miami is No. 14.
  • Arizona is No. 5; UCLA is No. 22.
Yes, But

Several teams are dealing with key absences and eligibility issues. Arizona is without forward RJ Godfrey, while Memphis big man Nemanja Popovic is ruled out for the first six games. Iowa State is also missing guard Killyan Toure with a shoulder injury.

What's Next

The opening-night picks favor UCLA to cover against Arizona, Miami to cover against Florida, Memphis to stay within the spread against Iowa State, Gonzaga to cover against Purdue, and BYU to beat Ohio State.

Bottom Line

Early-season rankings and expectations face their first real test Monday, but injuries, eligibility rulings and new lineups make these matchups especially difficult to read.