Arizona Holds No.1, Nebraska Soars to Highest Rank in 35 Years in AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll

Arizona remains No.1 as Nebraska climbs to No.15, its highest Top 25 ranking in nearly 35 years.

Arizona and Michigan Keep the Top Two

The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll released Monday kept the top two spots unchanged. Arizona, unbeaten at 9‑0, secured 42 of the 61 first‑place votes to stay No.1. Michigan, also undefeated at 10‑0, received 15 first‑place votes and remained No.2. This marks the second consecutive week that the Wildcats and Wolverines hold the top two positions.

Arizona’s 21‑Point Triumph Over Alabama

Arizona’s recent win over then‑No.12 Alabama was a showcase of resilience. After trailing at halftime, the Wildcats rallied to finish the game with a 21‑point victory. The win added to Arizona’s growing list of victories against ranked opponents, which now includes the reigning national champion Florida, UConn, and Auburn.

Michigan’s 18‑Point Winning Streak and Analytics Dominance

The Wolverines have won their last seven games by at least 18 points. Highlights of that streak include a 102‑72 win over Auburn and a 101‑61 victory against Gonzaga. Michigan also tops analytics rankings from KenPom, Evan Miyakawa, and Bart Torvik, underscoring its strength on both the court and the data side.

Top 10 Stagnation and First‑Place Votes

The top ten remained largely unchanged. Gonzaga moved to No.7 and Houston to No.8, swapping places from the previous week. Duke earned three first‑place votes to reach No.3, while Iowa State secured one first‑place vote for No.4. UConn and Purdue followed the Cyclones, and Michigan State and BYU rounded out the top ten.

Nebraska’s Historic Rise

Nebraska, 11‑0, made the largest jump of the week, moving up eight spots after a buzzer‑beating 3‑pointer that secured a win at then‑No.13 Illinois. The Cornhuskers have not been ranked this high since March 1991, when they finished the season at No.11. Since then, Nebraska has appeared in the Top 25 only 15 times. The team’s rise to No.15 is its highest ranking in nearly 35 years.

Other teams that moved up include Arkansas, which climbed three spots to No.14 after defeating Texas Tech; North Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Kansas, each moving up two spots to No.12, No.13, and No.17 respectively. In total, seven teams improved their positions from last week.

Other Movements: Sliders, Newcomers, and Conference Dynamics

The most significant slides came from Illinois and Florida, each falling five spots to No.18 and No.23. Alabama dropped four spots after its loss to Arizona, while Texas Tech slid three spots to join Houston as one of five teams to fall this week. Twelve teams maintained their positions from the previous poll.

Georgia became the sole newcomer, entering the Top 25 at No.25 and replacing UCLA. This is only the third time the Bulldogs have been ranked since the 2002‑03 season, following appearances in January 2011 (No.24) and last January (No.23).

Conference representation in the poll is as follows:

• The SEC has the most ranked teams with seven, none higher than Vanderbilt at No.13.
• The Big 12 follows with six ranked teams, including four in the top 10 and two in the top five.
• The Big Ten has five teams, and the ACC has four.
• Each of those three leagues has at least three teams ranked higher than any in the SEC.
• The Big East and West Coast Conference round out the list with two and one teams, respectively.

Key Takeaways

• Arizona stays No.1 with 42 first‑place votes, while Michigan remains No.2 with 15.
• Nebraska jumps to No.15, its highest Top 25 ranking in nearly 35 years.
• Illinois and Florida fall five spots, and Alabama drops four.
• Georgia enters the Top 25 at No.25, replacing UCLA.
• The Big 12 leads in conference representation, followed by the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC.

The poll reflects a mix of stability at the top and notable movement among mid‑ranked teams, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the college basketball season.