Purdue basketball’s epic 79-week run in the AP Top 25 is DONE. Gone. Finished. That’s a year and a half of being a fixture in the rankings, and just like that, before a single regular-season game is played, they are out of the preseason Top 25.
Out of the Top 25, But Not Out of Mind
The Boilermakers snagged 53 points in Monday’s preseason poll, which means voters didn’t just ignore them. They placed just outside the top 25, right there among the teams receiving votes. Still, going from a mind-blowing 79 consecutive weeks in the national rankings to starting the season unranked completely changes the vibe. This isn’t some final verdict on what Purdue can accomplish on the court this year; it is just a snapshot of the poll’s current expectations. The preseason vote dropped before anyone has even laced up for a regular-season game. A team can absolutely fly up those rankings once they start stacking wins, and an unranked team can still become a huge factor come March.
The New Reality: Earning It Back, Stat
This poll isn’t a standings table, and it sure doesn’t hand out tournament bids. It’s a weekly judgment from media voters about who they think the strongest teams are. So, while Purdue’s streak ending is a clear marker of shifting expectations, don’t confuse it with a forecast of their final record. Now, Houston owns the longest active AP Top 25 streak, sitting at 127 weeks and counting, according to the AP. That comparison puts things into perspective: keeping a long ranking streak alive is brutal, even for programs that are consistently good. Purdue’s challenge for the season is now crystal clear: they have to earn their way back into those weekly rankings. A strong start would get them right back in the conversation, fast. But for now, the poll has handed Purdue an early-season storyline: a program that had been ranked week after week must show voters, and everyone else, why it belongs back in that group.
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.
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