2026-27 Ivy League Preview: Penn and Harvard Lead, Columbia Has Sleeper Potential
2026-10-11
The Ivy League enters 2026–27 with an unusual combination: a tournament champion that brings back its top player, a serious challenger that returns nearly its entire core, and a defending regular-season champion trying to replace the experience behind four straight 20-win seasons. Penn, Harvard and Yale each have a legitimate claim to the top tier. Princeton looks capable of a sharp rebound, and Columbia has the returning pieces to make the four-team Ivy Madness field far less predictable.
MMH projects Penn to win the Ivy League, with Harvard close behind. We have Columbia as our sleeper because its returning young core gives it a plausible route to the fourth tournament berth. This is an editorial forecast, not a calculation from the locked MMH game model.
The Ivy plays a 14-game, double round-robin conference schedule. The top four teams advance to Ivy Madness, scheduled for March 12–14 at the Palestra in Philadelphia. The upcoming Ivy men's basketball media day is October 13, so the official 2026–27 preseason poll should be checked again before publication. Ivy media-day announcement
MMH Projected Order
| MMH | Team | Projected Ivy Record | 2025–26 Ivy | Blue Ribbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penn | 11-3 | 9-5 | 1 |
| 2 | Harvard | 10-4 | 10-4 | 2 |
| 3 | Princeton | 9-5 | 5-9 | 4 |
| 4 | Columbia | 8-6 | 5-9 | 6 |
| 5 | Yale | 7-7 | 11-3 | 3 |
| 6 | Cornell | 6-8 | 8-6 | 5 |
| 7 | Brown | 3-11 | 3-11 | 8 |
| 8 | Dartmouth | 2-12 | 5-9 | 7 |
The records total 56 wins and 56 losses, the exact conference-wide total for eight teams playing 14 league games apiece. They are original MMH preseason judgments, not outputs from MMH Model V1. The Blue Ribbon column is that publication's Ivy League conference forecast, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook 2026–27, Ivy League section; it is included as an attributed comparison, not reproduced yearbook analysis. An official 2026–27 men's basketball poll had not been verified as of this draft; its column can be added when released.
Where MMH differs
Penn and Harvard are the easiest consensus choices: Blue Ribbon has them first and second, and MMH agrees. The differences start behind them. Princeton is third for MMH rather than fourth because Mitch Henderson returns two dangerous scoring guards in Jackson Hicke and Dalen Davis, plus real shooting around them. Columbia is fourth rather than sixth because the Lions have several young contributors already comfortable in Kevin Hovde's system.
Yale is the toughest call. The Bulldogs won the 2025–26 regular-season title at 11–3, but their graduating core includes the leadership and production that made them a perennial title contender. Trevor Mullin, Riley Fox and Jordan Brathwaite give James Jones an experienced perimeter nucleus, and Yale could easily finish higher than our fifth-place forecast. MMH's judgment is that replacing four starters introduces a bigger early adjustment than the usual Yale preseason preview suggests.
The fourth-place line is the most important dividing point in the Ivy: Yale, Cornell and Columbia all have credible tournament arguments. A one- or two-game swing could rearrange the entire middle tier.
Team-by-team outlook
1. Penn
The favorite returns its difference-maker
Fran McCaffery's first Penn team reached the NCAA Tournament by winning Ivy Madness, and its 2026–27 outlook starts with TJ Power. The 6-foot-9 senior averaged 16.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, made 43.2 percent of his threes, and provided the mismatch scoring that can turn a close Ivy game. Penn also returns an experienced lead guard in AJ Levine (8.2 points, 4.0 assists, 1.8 steals), whose command improved late in the season, and scoring wing Michael Zanoni (11.8 points). Inside, Augustus Gerhart, Dalton Scantlebury and Lucas Lueth give McCaffery different combinations of size, screening and mobility.
Penn's ceiling depends on more than Power: the Quakers have to defend without fouling, rebound consistently and keep moving the ball when opponents sell out against the forward. The pieces fit McCaffery's faster, motion-oriented approach, though roster health and depth behind the first group remain worth monitoring. On returning production and proven late-game creation, MMH gives Penn the narrow edge over Harvard. Penn 2026–27 roster
2. Harvard
The most complete challenge to Penn
Tommy Amaker has an unusually stable group by modern college basketball standards. Robert Hinton (16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds), one of the Ivy's premier one-on-one guards, is back. Tey Barbour (13.6 points, 39.6 percent from three) offers high-volume shooting, Thomas Batties II (12.3 points, 5.4 boards, 45.3 percent from three) stretches the floor while protecting the rim, and Ben Eisendrath organizes the defense and offense. That is a strong four-player base, and healthy contributions from Austin Hunt, Kenan Parrish and other returning rotation players would deepen it.
Harvard led the Ivy in scoring defense last season and did not rely on spectacular pace to win. The next step is generating more efficient opportunities for Hinton once defenses load up against him, and creating more pressure at the foul line. The Crimson could win the league outright; MMH has them second by one projected game, not in a separate competitive tier. Harvard 2026–27 roster
3. Princeton
A rebound candidate hiding in plain sight
A 5–9 Ivy record is not the standard Mitch Henderson wants. But Jackson Hicke (15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds), Dalen Davis (14.7 points) and Jack Stanton (10.9 points) return to give Princeton a tested scoring trio. Hicke and Davis can create late-clock offense, while Stanton's shooting stretches help. The frontcourt remains substantial: Malik Abdullahi averaged 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds, with Jacob Huggins and CJ Happy providing different defensive and screening looks. Younger options such as Landon Clark and Sebastian Whitfield could raise the rotation's versatility.
The Tigers need their offense to be sharper after an inefficient 2025–26, particularly when pace slows. Their returning experience is a real advantage in a league where Yale and Cornell have to redefine prominent roles. MMH moves Princeton to third, one above Blue Ribbon's projection, and sees an outside chance of finishing even higher if its guards shoot efficiently. Princeton 2026–27 roster
4. Columbia
The sleeper pick: can a young core break through?
Kevin Hovde has something less common than a flashy transfer haul: a young group that already knows its league and system. Miles Franklin (9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds) brings size in the backcourt. Gerard O'Keefe (8.5 points) shot 42.9 percent from three. Connor Igoe (8.3 points, 5.6 boards, 3.0 assists) offers valuable playmaking from the frontcourt, while Mason Ritter (7.5 points, 5.4 rebounds) anchors the interior. Columbia went 16–12 overall but only 5–9 in Ivy play; a modest improvement in close conference games would make its overall progress more visible.
The question is whether the Lions can defend with enough consistency and get a steadier half-court offense from players who have not yet carried a contender. MMH's 8–6 projection and fourth-place finish are aggressive relative to Blue Ribbon's sixth-place forecast. Columbia is our sleeper because the roster's case rests on returning, identifiable contributors rather than only hope for a brand-new system. Columbia 2026–27 roster
5. Yale
The culture is proven; the lineup is new
James Jones has built one of the Ivy's strongest and most durable programs. Yale finished 11–3 in the league in 2025–26, reached the Ivy final, and continued its run of 20-win campaigns. The cost of that success is turnover: four starters are gone from the previous season. Senior Trevor Mullin (11.5 points) should have the ball more often. Riley Fox (10.0 points) and Jordan Brathwaite (6.6 points, 44.1 percent from three) are reliable perimeter pieces who can occupy expanded roles. The group around them—including Jack Sullivan, Daniel Ogunyemi and other younger players—must replace substantial inside production.
A fifth-place projection may look severe given Yale's program record. It is a bet against immediate continuity, not against Jones's coaching. Yale can absolutely make Ivy Madness or win the title if its new frontcourt develops early. This is the team MMH is least comfortable separating from the projected top four. Yale 2026–27 roster
6. Cornell
The offense will still run; who gets the stops?
Jon Jaques has maintained Cornell's fast, pass-heavy identity, and the Big Red should again be entertaining. The departures are meaningful, however. Jacob Beccles (7.7 points, 3.1 assists) is the leading returning scorer and a dependable organizer. Kaspar Sepp (4.8 points, 5.5 boards, 2.6 assists) supplies a rare blend of size and passing, while Anthony Nimani, Mateen Rafiq and Gioacchino Panzini offer shooting and expanded-role upside. Incoming contributors such as JJ Sanchez and Luke Kennevan add alternatives.
Cornell was strong on the offensive glass and beyond the arc last year but gave up too many easy baskets. The Big Red will need the same quick decisions with a new scoring hierarchy and considerably better defense to secure an Ivy Madness bid. Sixth is a cautious estimate, not a forecast that the offense suddenly disappears. Cornell 2026–27 roster
7. Brown
A coaching reset with more experience than its record suggests
Eric Reveno replaces Mike Martin after a summer change that left little time to build a completely new team. Yet Brown returns intriguing pieces. Jeremiah Jenkins (8.2 points, 5.2 assists, 1.9 steals) can initiate offense and pressure opponents. Adrian Uchidiuno (9.1 points), Luke Paragon (7.1 points) and N'famara Dabo (7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks) give the Bears both guard experience and a rim presence. Isaiah Langham and Brady Loughlin have shown they can score in extended minutes.
The Bears need better shot selection, steadier execution and a defensive identity that survives the coaching transition. There is some upside here—especially if the guard group gels quickly—but after a 3–11 Ivy season, MMH still asks Brown to prove it can win consistently before moving it into the middle tier. Brown 2026–27 roster
8. Dartmouth
A new coach, a fresh start and considerable uncertainty
Brett MacConnell brings long Ivy League experience from Princeton, where he was part of the staff behind the Tigers' 2023 Sweet 16 run. But his first Dartmouth team has no returning starters by Blue Ribbon's count. Cameron McNamee (6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds) is the top returning scorer. Nikola Abusara, Patrick Tivnan Jr. and Ben Brown have experience, while newcomers including Landon Williams, Dan Civello and a freshman group will compete for significant minutes. That is a broad range of outcomes for a roster still defining its hierarchy.
The early emphasis should be on developing ballhandling, defensive habits and a dependable offensive identity. MacConnell may elevate Dartmouth's ceiling over time, but competing immediately for the top four looks ambitious. MMH projects eighth rather than assuming coaching familiarity alone can offset the loss of all five starters. Dartmouth 2026–27 roster
Players who define the Ivy race
TJ Power (Penn) is MMH's preseason Player of the Year pick, with Robert Hinton (Harvard) his primary challenger. Jackson Hicke and Dalen Davis (Princeton) form one of the conference's most experienced scoring duos. Thomas Batties II and Tey Barbour (Harvard) give the Crimson proven shooting on both sides of the lineup. Trevor Mullin (Yale) carries a larger creation burden, while Connor Igoe (Columbia) could be the key player in a surprise Ivy Madness run.
MMH Preseason Awards
- Projected champion: Penn
- Player of the Year: TJ Power, Penn
- Best returning backcourt: Harvard (Robert Hinton, Tey Barbour, Ben Eisendrath)
- Breakout candidate: Connor Igoe, Columbia
- Sleeper: Columbia
- Biggest rebound candidate: Princeton
The MMH view
The Ivy title probably runs through Penn and Harvard, but the most compelling story is the fourth-place cutoff. Princeton's returning guards make the Tigers a dangerous rebound pick. Columbia has the continuity to crash Ivy Madness for the first time in this particular core's tenure, but Yale's track record demands respect and Cornell will be challenging to defend. The top two appear relatively clear; places three through six are not.
Related: MMH's Top 10 Ivy League Players · Columbia Sleeper Preview
Research checked October 11, 2026. Sources: 2026–27 official team rosters linked in the capsules; 2025–26 standings and league forecast from the user-provided Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook 2026–27 (Ivy League section); Ivy League media-day schedule. The MMH ordering, records and awards are independent editorial projections, not derived from the locked MMH Model V1. The official 2026–27 men's basketball preseason poll has not yet been incorporated. Internal team links require a local click-through check before publication.