Gonzaga Is Ranked No. 14, and Only Two Teams Are Even Expected to Beat Them

Gonzaga is kicking off the 2026-27 season ranked No. 14 in the preseason KenPom rankings. Yeah, you read that right. No. 14. That’s a solid spot, especially after last year’s rollercoaster ride that left us wanting more.

Last season was a wild one, right? The Zags finished the 2025-26 campaign at No. 15 in KenPom, racking up an insane 31-4 overall record. Thirty-one wins! That’s massive. But man, that Round of 32 loss to the No. 11-seeded Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament still stings a bit. We saw guys like Braden Huff and Mario Saint-Supery out there battling, so it was tough to watch it end. This year, the numbers are looking sharp: a No. 7 offensive rating at 121.2, a No. 21 defensive rating at 95.5, and a No. 62 tempo rating at 72.9. These guys are coming in hot, balanced on both ends, and ready to go.

Here’s the kicker, the truly wild part: KenPom is only predicting TWO losses for Gonzaga all season. Can you even believe that? TWO! That’s it. This isn’t just a strong team; if this prediction holds, we’re talking about a juggernaut. The first of these predicted challenges rolls in on December 19, 2026, against the Michigan State Spartans at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California. Circle that date, seriously. Then, later in the season, on February 20, 2027, they’re slated to face the Duke Blue Devils at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. If these are the only speed bumps, the rest of the schedule is looking like a runaway train for the Zags.

So, the challenge is clear. Gonzaga is staring down a season where only two teams are expected to even get the best of them. Can they prove KenPom right and maybe even surprise us by taking down one or both of those predicted losses? It’s going to be absolutely nuts watching this play out, because if they hit anywhere close to this projection, we’re talking about a truly special season ahead.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.