2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects Duke at #3 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +24.8 points per 100 possessions. That's roughly in line with last season's #1 finish. LangIndex classifies this roster as a national contender.
About 49% of last season's production returns, a middle-of-the-road continuity number. The incoming class is headlined by 5-star Cameron Williams, part of a 5-commit group.
Last Season (2025-26)
Duke finished 2025-26 at 32-2, ranked #1 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 128.9 and adjusted defense of 87.2 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates Duke
Duke's power rating of +24.8 is an adjusted efficiency margin: the points per 100 possessions the model expects them to outscore an average Division I team by, once you strip out schedule strength. It combines adjusted offensive efficiency, adjusted defensive efficiency, and pace into one number, so a rating of +24.8 means Duke projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 17 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
Duke Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. Duke has trended upward over the last few seasons. Their best finish in this window was #1 in 2025-26.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | +32.4 | #1 |
| 2024-25 | +32.8 | #1 |
| 2023-24 | +18.2 | #12 |
| 2022-23 | +14.7 | #19 |
| 2021-22 | +21.1 | #6 |
| 2020-21 | +3.7 | #107 |