College basketball in January is basically a fever dream where nobody is safe and the rankings change before the ink even dries. Honestly, if you blinked during the first two weeks of 2026, you probably missed a top-five shakeup. We’ve hit that point in the season where "resume" starts to mean more than "potential," and the AP basketball top 25 is finally reflecting who can actually survive a road trip in the Big 12 or the SEC.
Arizona is currently sitting on the throne, and it's not particularly close. They’ve looked like a different species lately. While other blue bloods are stumbling over their own shoelaces, the Wildcats are out here dismantling people. But the real story isn't just who's at No. 1. It’s the weird, logic-defying rise of schools like Nebraska and Vanderbilt that has everyone scratching their heads and checking the calendar to make sure it’s not 1996.
Arizona’s Stranglehold and the Unbeaten Chaos
As of the latest January 12 update, Arizona (16-0) is the near-unanimous king. They pulled 60 out of 61 first-place votes. Why? Because they just keep winning. Fresh off an 89-82 win over rival Arizona State where freshman phenom Koa Peat went nuclear in the second half, the Wildcats look like the most complete team in the country. Peat is living up to every bit of the hype, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 boards against the Sun Devils.
But look right behind them. Iowa State is also 16-0. They’re off to the best start in program history. People sort of slept on them because their early schedule was a bit soft, but you can’t argue with sixteen straight wins. They finally moved up to No. 2, leapfrogging a Michigan team that finally tasted defeat against Wisconsin.
Then there’s the Nebraska Cornhuskers. No, that’s not a typo. Nebraska is 16-0 and ranked No. 8. It’s their highest ranking since the LBJ administration. They’ve built this run on a defense that just makes life miserable for opponents. It’s the kind of story that makes the AP basketball top 25 so much fun—or incredibly frustrating if you're a fan of a blue blood currently sitting at home with four losses.
The Top 10 Reality Check
- 1. Arizona (16-0): The gold standard right now.
- 2. Iowa State (16-0): Historic start, defense is legit.
- 3. UConn (16-1): The defending champs are still terrifying.
- 4. Michigan (14-1): Suffered their first blemish but the metrics still love them.
- 5. Purdue (15-1): Steady, boring (in a good way), and always a threat.
- 6. Duke (15-1): They've survived some scares, but the talent is undeniable.
- 7. Houston (15-1): Still the most physical team you'll ever see.
- 8. Nebraska (16-0): The ultimate "wait, really?" team of 2026.
- 9. Gonzaga (17-1): Quietly racking up wins in the WCC.
- 10. Vanderbilt (16-0): Cracking the top 10 for the first time in over a decade.
The Women’s Poll: UConn’s Unanimous Dominance
If the men’s side is a chaotic scramble, the women’s AP basketball top 25 is a masterclass in excellence by one specific program. UConn is the unanimous No. 1. Every single one of the 32 voters put the Huskies at the top. They aren't just winning; they are vaporizing teams in the Big East by nearly 50 points a game.
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Sarah Strong has been a force of nature. If you haven't watched her play yet, you’re missing out on a future WNBA superstar. But don't let UConn's perfection distract you from the absolute bloodbath happening in the SEC.
The Southeastern Conference currently has nine teams in the Top 25. That ties a record. South Carolina is up to No. 2, and they have a massive target on their back. LSU and TCU also surged into the top 10 recently. Texas coach Vic Schaefer hasn't been shy about voicing his frustration with the schedule, especially having to face LSU and South Carolina back-to-back on the road. It’s a "stench," as he put it, but that’s just the reality of the most competitive conference in the country right now.
The SEC Power Block
It's kinda wild to see one conference dominate the top of the poll like this. Behind South Carolina at No. 2, you have Texas at No. 4, Vanderbilt at No. 5, LSU at No. 6, and Kentucky at No. 7. That's five of the top seven teams coming from one league. If you're a fan of parity, this probably isn't your favorite season. If you love high-level basketball where every Tuesday night feels like a Final Four matchup, it's heaven.
Risers, Fallers, and the "How Are They Still Ranked?" Discussion
Virginia is the big winner this week, jumping seven spots to No. 16. Ryan Odom has finally found the rhythm that the Cavs were missing last year. On the flip side, Alabama dropped five spots to No. 18 after a rough stretch. They're still a tournament lock, but the "legit contender" tag is starting to peel off a bit.
And we have to talk about Florida. The Gators were the preseason No. 3. Then they fell out of the rankings entirely. Now they're back at No. 19. It’s been a rollercoaster for the defending champs, but a 16-place jump in one week shows just how much the voters value their recent wins over ranked opponents.
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Kansas is another weird one. Bill Self's squad has struggled. They have three early-season losses to North Carolina, Duke, and UConn. While Darryn Peterson is averaging 22.5 points per game like it's nothing, the team's chemistry is still a work in progress. They are currently "others receiving votes" in the AP poll, which feels blasphemous to anyone living in Lawrence.
Why the NET and the AP Poll Are Fighting
If you look at the AP basketball top 25, Arizona is the king. But if you look at the NET rankings (the tool the NCAA selection committee actually uses), Michigan is often still No. 1.
Why the disconnect?
The AP poll is human. It's about "what have you done for me lately?" Humans love a 16-0 record. The NET is a computer. It cares about "how much did you beat that bad team by?" and "where did you play the game?" This leads to situations where Vanderbilt is No. 10 in the AP poll but slides down to No. 11 or 12 in the NET because the computers don't think their strength of schedule is tough enough yet.
This gap usually closes by February, but right now, it's a mess. For fans, it means you can find an argument to support almost any take you have. Want to say your team is underrated? Point to the NET. Want to say they're elite? Look at the AP.
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Key Factors Moving the Needle Right Now:
- Road Performance: Winning at home is expected. Winning in a hostile environment like Allen Fieldhouse or Rupp Arena is what moves you up five spots in one go.
- Freshman Impact: This year’s class is heavy. Koa Peat (Arizona), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), and AJ Dybantsa (BYU) aren't just playing; they are leading.
- Injury Reports: Several teams in the 15-25 range are nursing key injuries. Watch for Seton Hall and Utah State—two newcomers to the poll—to see if they have the depth to stay there once the Big Ten and Big 12 grinds really start to take a toll.
Actionable Steps for the College Hoops Fan
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve and predict the next AP basketball top 25, don't just look at the scores. Watch the schedules.
Check the "Others Receiving Votes" section. Teams like Saint Louis and Miami (Ohio) are right on the edge. One big upset win this week and they'll be in the 20s. Also, keep an eye on the Big 12 standings. With four of the top 15 teams residing there, someone is going to lose every night. The rankings are going to be a revolving door for the next three weeks.
Monitor the Thursday night showdowns specifically. That's when the committee and the voters seem to pay the most attention to the "statement" games. If you want to see where the value is for tournament betting or just bragging rights, look for the teams with high NET rankings that are still sitting low in the AP poll—like Illinois or BYU. They are the ones primed for a massive jump when the "name brand" teams inevitably trip up.
The most important thing to do is ignore the "preseason" labels. We are deep enough into the season now that those don't matter. Focus on the defensive efficiency ratings. Teams that can't stop the ball, like Alabama has struggled with at times, will eventually fall out of the top 20 regardless of how many points they score. Defense is the only thing that stays consistent when the shooting goes cold in a cold gym in February.