Don’t read too much into college basketball exhibition scores
The article warns fans against overreacting to college basketball exhibition results. Since 2025-26, Division I teams have been allowed to play exhibitions against each other without an NCAA waiver, creating a more competitive preseason. It notes that preseason games have historically not mattered and that final scores should not be treated as definitive.
The 2025-26 season introduced a new rule allowing Division I programs to schedule exhibitions against other Division I programs without an NCAA waiver. Previously, high-profile exhibitions between D-I schools required both NCAA approval and a charitable purpose. This shift means top teams can face each other in preseason rather than only lower-division opponents.
Early October results included Xavier over Tennessee, Seattle U over Oregon, Oregon State pushing Michigan, Santa Clara over Stanford, and Baylor over Florida. A year earlier, Cincinnati defeated Michigan in an exhibition; Michigan later won the national title, while Cincinnati missed the NCAA Tournament and lost 15 games. These examples show exhibition outcomes can diverge sharply from regular-season performance.
The new exhibition format could intensify fan and media attention on preseason games, potentially shaping early narratives around teams and players. Coaches and athletes may face added scrutiny from results that do not count in official records. If audiences treat these games as meaningful, disappointment or hype may build before the regular season, though the long-term effect on the sport may remain limited.