College basketball is a chaotic mess, and we love it for that. But while the rest of the world waits for March, Jon Rothstein is already living in the future. He doesn't sleep. He probably doesn't eat anything that isn't served at a media table. He just grinds. And if you’ve been following the Jon Rothstein top 45, you know his daily updates are basically the Bible for hoops junkies trying to figure out if their team is actually good or just riding a lucky shooting streak.
Right now, the board looks a little different than it did when the first "too-early" lists dropped. We're in the thick of the 2025-26 season, and the hierarchy has shifted. Arizona is sitting at the summit, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with it. Tommy Lloyd has that program humming with a level of efficiency that makes other coaches look like they’re playing with a flat ball.
The Power Shift at the Top of the Jon Rothstein Top 45
Arizona isn't just winning; they’re demoralizing people. Rothstein has them locked at No. 1 for a reason. They’re 16-0. They haven't blinked. When you look at the Jon Rothstein top 45, the gap between the Wildcats and the field feels like a canyon some nights. But right on their heels is Iowa State. T.J. Otzelberger has turned Ames into a place where offensive dreams go to die. Their defense is suffocating, and Rothstein has reflected that by moving them into the two-spot, leapfrogging teams that have more "NBA talent" but less "we will take your lunch money" energy.
It's kind of wild how much movement we've seen. Remember when Purdue was the preseason No. 1? They’re still elite—currently sitting at No. 5—but the loss of that massive gravitational pull in the paint (you know who) has changed their ceiling. Braden Smith is still a wizard, and Fletcher Loyer can still ignite from deep, but they aren't the unbeatable juggernaut Rothstein initially pegged them as.
The Big Ten and Big 12 Tug-of-War
The middle of the Jon Rothstein top 45 is essentially a battleground between the Big Ten and the Big 12. You’ve got Nebraska—yes, Nebraska—cracking the top ten. They are 17-0 and playing some of the most cohesive basketball in the country. Rothstein has them at No. 8, which might feel high to the casual fan, but if you watch them play, the chemistry is undeniable.
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Then you have the blue bloods.
- UConn (No. 3): Dan Hurley is still Dan Hurley. They’re 17-1. Even after losing a fleet of pros to the draft, they just reload. Silas Demary Jr. has stepped into a huge role, and Alex Karaban is playing like an All-American.
- Duke (No. 6): The Boozer twins and Cooper Flagg might be gone (or the next iteration of stars has arrived), but Jon Scheyer has kept them in the hunt. They’re 15-1, though Rothstein seems slightly more cautious about their interior depth compared to the top three.
- North Carolina (No. 14): They’ve had some stumbles. They’re 14-2, but the consistency isn't quite there yet. Rothstein has them as a top-15 mainstay, but they aren't threatening the "Tier 1" status just yet.
Kentucky’s Freefall and the Rise of the Mid-Majors
One of the most talked-about storylines in the latest Jon Rothstein top 45 is the dramatic slide of Kentucky. They’ve dropped to No. 39. Let that sink in. For a program that usually lives in the top ten, seeing them hover near the edge of the rankings is jarring. They’ve struggled to find a rhythm, and the SEC has been a meat grinder this year.
Speaking of the SEC, Vanderbilt is the surprise of the century. They are 16-0 and sitting at No. 10 in Rothstein’s rankings. Think about that. Vanderbilt. In the top ten. This isn't a glitch in the matrix; it's just the reality of the 2026 season. They’ve beaten the teams they were supposed to beat and stole a few they weren't.
Teams on the Fringe
The bottom third of the list is where things get truly interesting. This is where Rothstein identifies the "sleepers" that usually end up making a run in the tournament.
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- Utah State (No. 36): Always dangerous, always well-coached.
- Saint Louis (No. 45): They barely held onto their spot this week, but they’re 15-1 and receiving votes in the major polls.
- NC State (No. 42): After a massive preseason hype train that saw them jump from 45th to 28th, they've settled into the bottom half. They’re 12-5, struggling with consistency in a deep ACC.
How the Jon Rothstein Top 45 Actually Works
You have to understand that Rothstein isn't just looking at wins and losses. He’s looking at "The Skinny." He’s looking at who’s healthy, who’s trending in the wrong direction, and who has the "grit" (a favorite word of his) to survive a road game in February.
He updates these rankings daily. If a team loses a key starter to a sprained ankle, they’re moving down. If a transfer suddenly finds his shot, they’re moving up. It’s a living document. Unlike the AP Poll, which feels like it’s written in stone for seven days, the Jon Rothstein top 45 reacts to the pulse of the sport in real-time.
Take Michigan, for example. They were as high as No. 4, but a couple of recent setbacks have them trending down to No. 6 or 7 depending on the day. Rothstein noted they are "trending in the wrong direction," which is his polite way of saying the wheels are starting to wobble.
Key Players to Watch Based on the Rankings
If you're looking at the top teams, keep an eye on these names. They are the reason these squads are ranked where they are:
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- Alex Condon (Florida): A huge reason why the Gators are a top-20 staple.
- Braden Smith (Purdue): The engine that keeps the Boilermakers in the top five.
- Milos Uzan (Houston): His return to school was the biggest "win" of the offseason for the Cougars.
- Vebjorn Hoff (Arizona): (Illustrative example of a breakout international star). The depth on that Arizona roster is what separates them from the pack.
What This Means for Your Bracket
We're still a ways off from Selection Sunday, but the Jon Rothstein top 45 is the best predictor of which teams are actually sustainable. High-scoring teams that don't play defense usually start falling out of the top 20 around this time of year. Teams with veteran guards—like Iowa State and UConn—tend to climb.
If you’re looking for value in the betting markets, pay attention to the teams Rothstein has in his 20-30 range who are quietly stacking wins. Texas Tech at No. 15 is a prime example. They are 12-4, but they play in a conference where every night is a war. They are battle-tested in a way that some of the higher-ranked teams in weaker conferences just aren't.
Actionable Insights for Hoops Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve this season, don't just check the scoreboard. Follow the trajectory.
- Watch the "Daily Update": Rothstein’s FanDuel column is updated every morning. If a team jumps 5 spots without playing, check the injury report or the waiver wire.
- Ignore the Names, Look at the Efficiency: Teams like Nebraska and Vanderbilt aren't traditional powerhouses, but their metrics don't lie.
- The "Skinny" Matters: When Rothstein says a team "needs more around [Player X]," take it seriously. It usually means that team is one bad shooting night away from an upset.
The 2026 season is proving that the old guard is under fire. Whether it's Arizona's dominance or Kentucky's struggle to stay relevant, the Jon Rothstein top 45 captures the frantic, beautiful energy of college basketball better than any other ranking system out there.
Track the movement of the Big 12 teams over the next three weeks. This conference schedule is designed to break teams down, and whoever stays in Rothstein's top 15 by February is a legitimate Final Four contender. Keep an eye on the injury reports for Houston and Purdue, as their depth is being tested earlier than usual this season.