Look, if you told me in November that Vanderbilt and Nebraska would both be sitting in the top 10 by mid-January, I probably would’ve asked what you were drinking. Honestly. But here we are. It’s 2026, and the ncaa men basketball top 25 looks like a fever dream that just won’t end.
Arizona is still the king of the hill, sitting pretty at No. 1 with a 16-0 record, but they aren’t the story. Not really. The real story is the absolute chaos happening underneath them. We’ve got "unbeatens" that usually spend January worrying about bubble placement suddenly eyeing No. 1 seeds.
The Arizona Standard and the Michigan Slide
Arizona didn't just stumble into the top spot. They earned it. After Michigan took a brutal home loss to Wisconsin, the Wildcats became the consensus choice, grabbing 60 of 61 first-place votes in the latest AP Poll. They are deep, they are fast, and frankly, they look like the only team that doesn't have a glaring "oh no" moment once a week.
Michigan, meanwhile, dropped to No. 4. People are still high on them because the metrics—the nerds at KenPom and Bart Torvik—still love their efficiency. But in the real world, you lose at home to an unranked team, you're gonna slide. That's just how the ncaa men basketball top 25 works.
Why Nebraska and Vanderbilt are Breaking the Matrix
Let's talk about the Cornhuskers. Nebraska is 16-0. Let that sink in. This is a program that has literally never won an NCAA Tournament game. Not one. Ever. And yet, Fred Hoiberg has them ranked No. 8 in the nation.
How? Transfers.
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Pryce Sandfort (the former Iowa guard) is averaging over 16 points a game, and Jamarques Lawrence is playing like a man possessed. They aren't the prettiest team—they shoot about 35% from three and their offensive rebounding is, well, kind of a disaster—but they win. They are 7-0 in games decided by 10 points or fewer. They’ve basically turned "winning ugly" into an art form.
Then you have Vanderbilt at No. 10. The Commodores haven't been in this neighborhood since the 2011-12 season. They are 16-0 and just finished a week where they basically bullied Alabama off the court. It's weird seeing Memorial Gym be a house of horrors again, but it’s definitely happening.
The Power Players Still Lurking
It isn't all Cinderella stories. Iowa State is sitting at No. 2, also undefeated. They have a defense that basically functions like a woodchipper. If you try to pass into the paint against them, good luck.
And don't look now, but UConn is right there at No. 3. The Huskies are 16-1 and play with a level of arrogance that you kind of have to respect. They know they're the big dogs. They aren't scared of a road trip to a loud Big East arena.
A Quick Look at the Current AP Top 10 (as of Jan 12, 2026):
- 1. Arizona (16-0) – The undisputed heavyweights.
- 2. Iowa State (16-0) – Defensive masterclass every night.
- 3. UConn (16-1) – Still the gold standard for consistency.
- 4. Michigan (14-1) – The analytical darlings despite the Wisconsin slip.
- 5. Purdue (15-1) – Death, taxes, and Matt Painter having a huge guy in the middle.
- 6. Duke (15-1) – Quietly taking care of business in the ACC.
- 7. Houston (15-1) – Kelvin Sampson's guys still defend like their lives depend on it.
- 8. Nebraska (16-0) – The "wait, really?" team of the year.
- 9. Gonzaga (17-1) – Mark Few just keeps the machine running.
- 10. Vanderbilt (16-0) – SEC's biggest surprise.
The Big Risers and the "What Happened?" Teams
Virginia is the biggest mover this week, jumping seven spots to No. 16. Ryan Odom has brought a spark back to Charlottesville that we haven't seen in a while. They just swept a homestand against the California schools and look like a genuine threat to Duke in the ACC.
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On the flip side, Alabama is tumbling. They fell five spots to No. 18. Losing at Vanderbilt is one thing—Vandy is good this year—but then losing at home to Texas? That’s the kind of week that gives Nate Oats nightmares. They play fast, but sometimes they play so fast they forget to actually guard anyone.
Florida is also back. They were preseason No. 3, fell completely out of the poll for a week, and now they’re back at No. 19. They are the ultimate "we'll either win by 30 or lose to a high school team" squad this year.
The Conference War
If you want to know who owns the ncaa men basketball top 25 right now, look at the SEC. They have six teams in the rankings. The Big 12, Big Ten, and ACC each have five.
The interesting thing is the Big 12 and Big Ten have all five of their teams inside the top 15. The SEC has a lot of quantity, but the Big 12 has the top-heavy quality with Arizona, Iowa State, and Houston. It’s going to be a bloodbath once we get into late February.
Why You Shouldn't Trust the Rankings (Yet)
Here is the truth: the NET rankings—the ones the selection committee actually uses—look a lot different than the AP poll. For example, the NET still has Michigan at No. 1. It also has Utah State at No. 14, even though the AP voters have them down at No. 23.
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The computers love efficiency. The human voters love "zeroes" in the loss column. That’s why Nebraska is No. 8 in the poll but 28th in offensive efficiency. Eventually, these two worlds have to collide. Nebraska has a road trip to Northwestern on January 17th, and then they have to go to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on the 27th. That is when we find out if the Cornhuskers are for real or just a very lucky team with a soft early schedule.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of January
If you're following the ncaa men basketball top 25, here is how you should actually be watching these games:
Watch the "Toughness" Metrics
Don't just look at points per game. Look at how teams like Iowa State and Houston perform on the offensive glass. In March, when the shots stop falling, the teams that get second chances are the ones that survive.
Identify the Fraud Alert Teams
Teams like Nebraska are flirting with danger. They win close games, which is a skill, but it’s also a variance trap. If a few bounces go the other way, a 16-0 team can quickly become a 17-5 team. Keep an eye on their turnover margins in conference play.
The "New Blood" Factor
Keep an eye on Virginia and Vanderbilt. These aren't just fluke starts; these are systemic changes in how they play. Ryan Odom at UVa has modernized an offense that was previously stuck in the mud.
Monitor the Injury Reports
With the intensity of conference play, depth is everything. A team like Arizona can survive a minor injury to a starter; a team like Seton Hall (No. 25) probably can't.
The next two weeks will tell us everything. We have huge matchups like Vanderbilt at Texas and Arizona vs. Arizona State. By the time February hits, the "unbeatens" list will likely be down to one or two names. Enjoy the chaos while it lasts, because the reality check is coming for everyone.