If you’ve been keeping an eye on the AP poll basketball rankings this week, you probably noticed something wild. The Big 12 is basically a meat grinder. Arizona is sitting at No. 1 with a perfect 16-0 record, and Iowa State is right behind them at No. 2. Honestly, it’s getting a little ridiculous how much talent is packed into one conference.
Look at the top ten. Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, and BYU. That’s four teams from the same league in the top eleven. It's enough to make any fan of the ACC or Big Ten feel a little bit salty. But that’s just how the 2025-26 season has been shaking out so far. The voters clearly love what’s happening out West.
The Chaos At The Top
Arizona has a stranglehold on that No. 1 spot. They pulled 60 first-place votes in the latest January 12 poll. They’re playing fast, they’re deep, and they haven't slipped up once. But Iowa State is lurking. The Cyclones are also 16-0, and they just jumped over Michigan to take the No. 2 slot.
Michigan took a bit of a tumble. They fell two spots to No. 4 after a tough loss, which opened the door for UConn to slide into No. 3. It’s funny how one bad night in January can completely reshape how the national media views your team. One minute you're the "team to beat," and the next, you're just another top-five squad trying to hold onto a high seed.
Vanderbilt is the story nobody saw coming. Seriously. The Commodores are 16-0 and just cracked the top ten at No. 10. For a program that has spent plenty of years in the SEC cellar lately, seeing them ranked higher than perennial powerhouses like Kentucky (who aren't even in the Top 25 right now) is a massive shock to the system.
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Breaking Down The AP Top 25 Movement
The bottom half of the AP poll basketball rankings is where the real drama lives. This is where you see teams like Florida making huge leaps. The Gators jumped up 16 spots to land at No. 19. That's the kind of movement that usually requires a couple of ranked wins in a single week.
On the flip side, we saw some big names fall completely out of the rankings. Kansas, Iowa, SMU, and UCF are all on the outside looking in this week. It’s brutal. Kansas is usually a fixture in the Top 25, so seeing them in the "Others receiving votes" section feels wrong. They got 60 votes, which puts them just outside the cut-off behind No. 25 Seton Hall.
Speaking of Seton Hall, they’re back. It’s their first time being ranked since early 2022. They’ve managed a 14-2 record and grabbed that final spot in the poll. It’s a big deal for the Big East, especially since UConn is already carrying the torch at the top.
Mid-January Rankings Snapshot (Men's)
- Arizona (16-0)
- Iowa State (16-0)
- UConn (16-1)
- Michigan (14-1)
- Purdue (15-1)
- Duke (15-1)
- Houston (15-1)
- Nebraska (16-0)
- Gonzaga (17-1)
- Vanderbilt (16-0)
Nebraska at No. 8 is another "pinch me" moment for Big Ten fans. They’ve matched their highest ranking ever—a mark they haven't hit since 1966. If you had Nebraska and Vanderbilt both in the top ten in mid-January on your bingo card, you're either a liar or a genius.
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What About Women's Basketball?
The women's side is just as competitive, though the narrative is a bit different. The Big Ten is showing some serious muscle here too. Shauna Green has Illinois back in the national spotlight, with the Illini re-entering the poll at No. 25. They’ve got a 14-3 record and a huge win over Maryland that proved they belong.
It’s actually the first time Illinois has been ranked in four consecutive seasons since the late 90s. That’s a long drought. UCLA and Maryland are still the heavy hitters to watch in the Power 4 conferences, but the depth is growing. Teams like Princeton and Stanford are holding steady, showing that the traditional powers haven't gone anywhere just yet.
The Controversy You Aren't Seeing
While we're all staring at the AP poll basketball rankings, a massive scandal is brewing in the background. Federal prosecutors just unsealed an indictment involving a point-shaving ring. We’re talking about 26 people, including current and former college players.
This isn't just small-school stuff, either. Names like Tulane, DePaul, and Saint Louis have been mentioned. It’s a dark cloud over what has been a fantastic season. Most fans are focused on the bracketology and the Top 25, but this gambling investigation is going to have long-term consequences for how the NCAA handles NIL and player security. It makes you look at some of those "upsets" or weird point spreads a little differently, doesn't it?
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Why These Rankings Matter For March
You might think January is too early to obsess over the polls. You'd be wrong. These rankings aren't just for TV graphics; they build the "resume" that the selection committee looks at in March.
A win over a "Top 10" team in January looks a lot better than a win over a "Top 25" team that eventually falls out of the rankings. That's why teams like Virginia (No. 16) and Texas Tech (No. 15) are fighting so hard to stay relevant. They need those "Quality Wins" to stack up.
If you’re trying to keep up with the chaos, here’s what you should actually be watching:
- Conference Records: Look at the Big 12 standings. Arizona, BYU, and Houston are all undefeated in conference play. Something has to give.
- The "First Four Out": Keep an eye on Kansas and Saint Louis. They’re the most likely to jump back into the Top 25 if anyone in the 20-25 range slips up.
- Vanderbilt’s Schedule: They’re 16-0, but the SEC schedule is about to get way tougher. If they’re still in the top ten by February, they’re the real deal.
- The NET Rankings: The AP Poll is a "human" poll, but the NET is the math-based version. Michigan is actually No. 1 in the NET despite being No. 4 in the AP.
The AP poll basketball rankings will update again next Monday. Between now and then, expect more upsets. In college hoops, "stability" isn't really a thing. One night you're No. 1, and the next, you're just another highlight on someone else's Twitter feed.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close watch on the Monday afternoon releases (usually around 1:00 PM ET). Compare the AP movement with the KenPom and NET efficiency metrics to see which teams are "frauds" and which are legitimate contenders. If a team is ranked high in the AP but low in the NET—like some of the mid-majors often are—they might be headed for an early exit in the tournament. Conversely, a team like Michigan being No. 1 in the NET suggests they might be undervalued by human voters even after a loss.