If you’re looking for a massive slate of Top 25 men’s showdowns today, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, I’ve got some news that might be a little disappointing—or exciting, depending on how much you love a good "trap game." Honestly, the men's side is a bit quiet at the very top of the rankings tonight, but the ncaa basketball schedule for today is absolutely carrying its weight with a massive showdown in the Pacific Northwest and a women's slate that looks like a Final Four preview.
Let’s be real. January is when the "pretenders" start getting exposed. We just saw Michigan, a team that looked like an unstoppable buzzsaw, finally trip up against Wisconsin. Now, everyone is looking at Arizona and Iowa State to see who blinks first.
While the heavy hitters in the AP Poll like Arizona and UConn are resting up for the weekend, we have a massive regional clash tonight. No. 9 Gonzaga is heading into Pullman to face Washington State. If you know anything about this rivalry, you know that "No. 9" next to Gonzaga’s name doesn't mean a thing once they step into Beasley Coliseum.
Why the NCAA Basketball Schedule for Today is All About the Women’s Top 10
While the men's schedule is leaning on mid-major battles and West Coast late-nighters, the women’s side is providing pure electricity. We’ve got heavyweight bouts that will directly impact March seeding.
Top of the list? No. 4 Texas at No. 2 South Carolina. This isn't just a game; it's a collision. South Carolina has been the gold standard for what feels like forever, but Texas is playing with a chip on their shoulder this year. They’re meeting at Colonial Life Arena, and if you aren't tuned into ESPN2 at 7:00 PM ET, you’re missing the best game of the night, hands down.
Then you’ve got No. 9 Louisville heading into South Bend to take on No. 23 Notre Dame. Louisville is trying to prove they belong in that elite tier, while the Irish are looking for a signature win to climb back up the rankings. It’s gritty, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) basketball at its finest.
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Here is a quick look at the TV windows for the biggest games:
- No. 9 Louisville at No. 23 Notre Dame (Women): 6:00 PM ET on ACC Network.
- No. 4 Texas at No. 2 South Carolina (Women): 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2.
- No. 5 Vanderbilt at Mississippi State (Women): 6:30 PM ET on SEC Network.
- No. 12 Maryland at USC (Women): 9:00 PM ET on Peacock.
- No. 9 Gonzaga at Washington State (Men): 10:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.
Don't Sleep on the Mid-Major Grinds
Look, I get it. Everyone wants to talk about the blue bloods. But if you’re a true hoop head, tonight's schedule has some "bracket buster" energy in the smaller conferences.
Take the Vermont vs. Maine game at 6:00 PM ET. Vermont is usually the king of the America East, but they’ve been sweating a bit lately. Their leading scorer, Gus Yalden, had a scary moment with a cramp (or maybe more?) in their last outing against Binghamton. Watching how they respond without him at 100% is the kind of detail that matters when you're filling out a bracket in two months.
Over in the Big West, UC Santa Barbara is visiting Cal State Bakersfield at 9:30 PM ET. The Gauchos are looking for a season sweep, but playing in Bakersfield is never as easy as the records make it look. It’s basically a night of survival for these road favorites.
Breaking Down the Rankings: Who is Actually Number One?
The AP Poll that dropped on Monday (Jan. 12) gave Arizona the top spot, and they earned it. They took 60 of the 61 first-place votes. But if you talk to the analytics junkies—the people living on KenPom or Bart Torvik—they’ll tell you Michigan is still the best team in the country despite that loss to Wisconsin.
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It's sort of a "eye test" vs. "spreadsheets" debate right now. Arizona passes the eye test because they simply don't lose. They’ve got freshmen like Koa Peat and Brayden Burries playing like seasoned vets. But the schedule is back-loaded. They haven't really been through the gauntlet yet.
Iowa State is sitting at No. 2, and they’re basically a flamethrower from deep, shooting around 41% from three-point range as a team. That’s unsustainable, right? Usually, yeah. But they’ve been doing it for over two months now.
The Top 5 Men's Landscape
- Arizona (16-0): The undisputed kings for now.
- Iowa State: The best shooting team in the country.
- UConn: The defending champs are lurking, just waiting for someone to slip.
- Michigan: Dropped two spots after the Wisconsin loss, but still terrifying.
- Purdue: Steady, boring, and incredibly effective.
Actionable Tips for Following Today's Games
If you're trying to keep up with the ncaa basketball schedule for today without losing your mind, you've got to prioritize your screens.
First, get the Peacock app ready. The Big Ten has moved a lot of their high-value games there, including the Maryland vs. USC women's game tonight. If you’re waiting for it on cable, you’re going to be staring at a blank screen.
Second, watch the injury reports for the mid-major games. In conferences like the Sun Belt or the MAC, one missing starter changes the entire dynamic. For example, Old Dominion at Georgia Southern might seem like a skip, but Georgia Southern is terrible at defensive rebounding. If Old Dominion’s bigs are healthy, that’s a mismatch you can exploit if you’re looking at the betting lines.
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Lastly, keep an eye on the "Late Night Hoops" out West. The Gonzaga vs. WSU game at 10:00 PM ET is the last big data point we get before the weekend. If Gonzaga struggles against a WSU team that has been up and down, their Top 10 status is going to be a major talking point on Friday morning.
Next Steps for Your Hoops Fix:
- Check your local listings for the ACC Network and SEC Network early; these games often start right on the dot.
- Download a live-score app like SofaScore or ESPN to track the mid-major games that aren't televised nationally.
- Keep an eye on the KenPom live ratings during the Gonzaga game to see if the "efficiency gap" is closing.
The season is officially in the "grind" phase. This is where champions are actually made—on cold Thursday nights in Pullman or South Bend, far away from the bright lights of the Final Four.
Stay tuned, because by tomorrow morning, this Top 25 is probably going to look a whole lot different.