2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects UC Santa Barbara at #133 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +1.1 points per 100 possessions. The model sees improvement from last season's #155 finish. The projection makes this team a factor in its conference race.
Only 36% of last season's minutes return, so this roster will look very different. Expect some early-season volatility while new pieces settle in. The program adds 1 incoming recruit to the mix.
Last Season (2025-26)
UC Santa Barbara finished 2025-26 at 16-14, ranked #155 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 111.7 and adjusted defense of 111.1 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Barbara's power rating of +1.1 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 +1.1 means UC Santa Barbara projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 1 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
UC Santa Barbara Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. UC Santa Barbara's rating has slipped compared to a few seasons ago. Their best finish in this window was #19 in 2020-21.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | -1.0 | #147 |
| 2024-25 | +5.1 | #95 |
| 2023-24 | -1.1 | #180 |
| 2022-23 | +8.8 | #67 |
| 2021-22 | +6.4 | #85 |
| 2020-21 | +16.7 | #19 |