Golfweek's preseason poll puts Florida atop 2026-27 men's college golf

Golfweek released its preseason rankings for the 2026-27 men's college golf season, placing Florida at No. 1 ahead of Arizona State and defending national champion Auburn.

Where does the reigning champion rank?

Auburn beat UCLA 3-1 in last year's match-play final to win its second national title in program history, but Golfweek slots the Tigers third after the departure of Jackson Koivun, one of the top amateurs of his era. Auburn returns senior Josiah Gilbert, sophomore Logan Reilly, Cayden Pope, Jake Albert and Billy Davis. The 2027 NCAA Men's Golf Championship returns to Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, for a fourth straight year under the tournament's five-year contract.

Golfweek's men's college golf preseason top 10

Who are the top newcomers to watch?

Florida's roster includes world No. 8 Luke Poulter, No. 15 Jack Turner and incoming freshman Jackson Ormond under coaches J.C. Deacon and Dudley Hart. Tennessee freshman Tyler Watts, ranked third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, became the youngest winner of the Northeast Amateur, reached the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals and is set to represent the United States at this weekend's Walker Cup. North Carolina sophomore Carson Bertagnole came close to making that same Walker Cup team after a standout summer.

Oklahoma State enters with the same starting five for a third straight season after winning the 2025 national title, though the Cowboys fell to Auburn in last year's semifinals. LSU rallied to reach the 15-team cut at Omni La Costa last season but did not advance to match play, and star Arni Sveinsson may miss the start of this season with an injury.