A disappointing No. 7 Ivy League finish last season meant that the Quakers ended a fourth-straight season without an Ivy League tournament showing. But with new coach Fran McCaffrey now at the helm, the team is gearing up for a return to the national stage.
Here is how Penn stands in the Ancient Eight based on the 2025-26 Ivy League preseason media poll.
No. 1 Yale (22-8, 13-1 Ivy League)
The reigning Ivy League champions were a unanimous pick for first place. This season, Yale is looking to establish itself as a fierce national competitor — not only for another Ivy title in March, but a national one in April, even after falling to Texas A&M in the first round of March Madness last year. The Bulldogs lost key players to the NBA in the offseason, including reigning Ivy League Player of the Year guard Bez Mbeng and conference-leading scorer guard John Poulakidas. With three returning starters and four-time Ivy League Coach of the Year James Jones — who has seven championships under his belt — the Bulldogs have plenty of ammunition to reload and begin the season back atop the league.
No. 2 Harvard (12-15, 7-7)
Coming off a mixed season, the Crimson made a surprising leap from a No. 5 season finish to No. 2 in this year’s preseason poll — partly due to their retention of talent. The team’s three top scorers — guard Chandler Piggé, forward Thomas Batties II, and unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year guard Robert Hinton — are returning. Transitioning from missing the Ivy League tournament to becoming Ivy League champions will require Harvard to unite its distinctly talented players, and coach of 18 years Tommy Amaker is up to the task.
No. 3 Cornell (18-11, 9-5)
Though the Big Red’s pursuit of an Ancient Eight title was cut short in their championship loss to the Bulldogs last season, the team is optimistic for the season ahead. Coach Jon Jaques’ record-breaking first season came with the help of a trio of guards: AK Okereke, Jake Fiegen, and Cooper Noard. Although Okereke has since transferred to Vanderbilt, the Big Red boasts five returning seniors who are pivotal to the team’s fast-paced style of play. As host of Ivy Madness this year, the upcoming season will prove whether Cornell will be competing at home for an Ivy League championship or watching from its own stands.
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No. 4 Princeton (19-11, 8-6)
Princeton did not live up to its expectations last year. After being ranked No. 1 in the 2024-25 preseason poll, the Tigers finished at No. 4 in the conference and lost a nail-biter game in the 2025 Ivy League semifinals. Entering this season, the redemption arc does not look promising, as the Tigers lost several players integral to their previous success. Guard Xaivian Lee, who took the country by storm with his dominant Ivy League playstyle, transferred to reigning NCAA champion Florida, while fellow guard Jack Scott is leaving for Duke and forward Caden Pierce is sitting out the season. With those departures, the team will turn to juniors to lead this year, as the roster is notably without any seniors. It looks to be an uphill battle for Princeton to reach glory this season.
No. 5 Dartmouth (14-14, 8-6)
Unlike Princeton, Dartmouth finished its season on a historic note — with its first winning season in the 21st century and first Ivy Madness appearance in program history. While the team lost in the semifinals, the Big Green are hoping to use that momentum to mount another strong season. Forward Brandon Mitchell-Day is returning as a consistent vocal leader for the team alongside four returning starters, including five-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week point guard Connor Amundsen. With a schedule featuring non-conference matchups against Florida and Boston University, Dartmouth will have plenty of challenges under its belt before entering Ivy League play.
No. 6 Brown (14-13, 6-8)
The Bears also underperformed last year. Entering the 2024-25 season as No. 3 in the Ivy League, the Bears came up short in a close race for the final seed in the Ivy tournament. Brown lost five players to graduation this offseason, including standout guard Kino Lilly Jr., who left Brown as the all-time program leader in three-pointers made and second in all-time program career points. The Bears’ roster is left with only a few underclassmen who have received substantial minutes on the court. Forward Landon Lewis and guard Alexander Lesburt Jr. collectively scored more than 500 points for the Bears last season and will look to lead Brown back to its first Ivy League tournament appearance in two years.
No. 7 Penn (8-19, 4-10)
Following a second-straight disappointing No. 7 finish last season, the Quakers have experienced one of the most transformative offseasons in program history. After firing former coach Steve Donahue after nine seasons, Penn hired former Iowa coach Fran McCaffery — the most prolific and winningest coach in Hawkeyes history — as his replacement. The program has retained the likes of senior guard/forward Ethan Roberts and sophomore guard AJ Levine and welcomed Virginia transfer junior forward TJ Power, the first former five-star recruit in program history. Ahead of their season opener on Nov. 7, the Quakers have set the goal of an Ivy League championship this season. The polls are not optimistic about their chances, but the Quakers are poised to set up a strong foundation for the McCaffery era of Penn men’s basketball.
No. 8 Columbia (12-15, 1-13)
What began as an auspicious year for the Lions quickly became a nightmare. After starting the 2024-25 season 11-2, Columbia finished its final 14 games with a record of 1-13. After an injury to star guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa, the team continued to spiral to its worst finish in decades. At the end of the season, coach Jim Engles announced his resignation after nine seasons with the program. However, the Lions have a bright spot in the darkness: new coach Kevin Hovde. The new leader rejoins the Columbia coaching staff after a stint at Florida, where he helped the Gators win a national championship as an assistant coach. Hovde hopes to lead Columbia to its first conference championship since 1968.
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