Here is a quick look at where UCLA is ranked in various 2025 preseason national college basketball rankings.
UCLA sits at number 10 in the rankings, bolstered by the return of three of their top four scorers from a squad that finished 23-11 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2025. They believe that with Skyy Clark, Tyler Bilodeau, and Eric Dailey Jr. all returning and the addition of New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent, the Bruins are a top-10 preseason team.
ESPN doesn't have UCLA ranked as high as CBS Sports. However, they still have the Bruins in the top 15 due in part to the positive addition of Donovan Dent, who earned the title of Mountain West Player of the Year after his standout season at New Mexico. His arrival, according to ESPN, was a significant moment in the portal's early days and helped improve UCLA's backcourt. They also believe that Mick Cronin will get improvements from Trent Perry in his sophomore year.
On3 has UCLA ranked lower than the other major publications, maybe because they list the key departures of key departures of guard Dylan Andrews (Boise State), Kobe Johnson (graduated), Sebastian Mack (Missouri), and Aday Mara (Michigan) as a factor, where CBS Sports and ESPN see the retention of Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, and Eric Dailey as well as the addtion of Dent outweighing the departures this offseason.
The Athletic rankings suggest that UCLA has lacked a "reliable point guard" since 2021. They believe that the addition of Dent, who has maintained an impressive plus-30 assist rate at New Mexico over the past two seasons, will help address this issue. They are suggesting that Dent will, in part, help transform UCLA's offense, just as Tyger Campbell was able to do.
They also believe that Cronin will still be able to maintain UCLA as a top-tier defensive team this upcoming season, despite the departure of key players from Westwood who were good to exceptional defenders over the past two seasons. Besides Dent, they suggest that Dailey, Bilodeau, and Clark are key players for the Bruins.
Fox Sports did not give any reasons for UCLA's top 12 preseason rankings.
USA Today has UCLA ranked the highest in their preseason ranking, but they also have the Bruins ranked in the top five.