Man, college hoops is just a different beast this year. If you've been looking at the top 25 basketball rankings ncaa for the week of January 12, 2026, you probably noticed things feel a little... upside down? I mean, we have Nebraska and Vanderbilt sitting in the top ten while blue bloods like Kansas are basically fighting for their lives just to stay relevant. It is chaos. Pure, beautiful basketball chaos.
The Arizona Wildcats are effectively the kings of the hill right now. Tommy Lloyd’s squad (16-0) just grabbed 60 of the 61 possible first-place votes in the latest AP Poll. They aren't just winning; they're dismantling people. But honestly, the real story isn't just at No. 1. It’s the group of unbeatens that nobody—and I mean nobody—saw coming back in November.
The Top 25 Basketball Rankings NCAA (Current AP Poll)
Let's look at how the voters actually laid this out for the week. Arizona is the clear heavyweight, but Iowa State is right on their heels.
- Arizona (16-0) – 60 first-place votes. They are a freight train.
- Iowa State (16-0) – Only team to steal a first-place vote from the Wildcats.
- UConn (16-1) – The Huskies are the best one-loss team in the country, period.
- Michigan (14-1) – Dropped two spots after a loss to Wisconsin, but the analytics still love them.
- Purdue (15-1) – Matt Painter just keeps finding ways to stay in the mix.
- Duke (15-1) – Quietly efficient and waiting for someone above them to slip.
- Houston (15-1) – Still the defensive nightmare they always are.
- Nebraska (16-0) – Their highest ranking since 1966. Yeah, you read that right.
- Gonzaga (17-1) – Mark Few has them humming again after a "down" year by their standards.
- Vanderbilt (16-0) – First time in the top 10 since 2012.
- BYU (15-1)
- Michigan State (14-2)
- Illinois (13-3)
- North Carolina (14-2)
- Texas Tech (12-4)
- Virginia (14-2) – Ryan Odom has the Cavaliers moving up fast.
- Arkansas (12-4)
- Alabama (11-5) – The biggest fall of the week. Not a great time in Tuscaloosa.
- Florida (12-5) – Welcome back to the party, Gators.
- Louisville (12-4)
- Georgia (14-2)
- Clemson (14-3)
- Utah State (13-1)
- Tennessee (10-4)
- Seton Hall (14-2)
The Unbeatens Nobody Expected
Is Nebraska actually for real? It’s the question everyone is asking. At 16-0, they’ve matched a program record for their highest ranking ever. They play a gritty, Big Ten style that isn't always pretty to watch, but it’s undeniably effective.
👉 See also: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
Then there’s Vanderbilt. The Commodores haven’t smelled the top ten in over a decade. Seeing them at No. 10 is a testament to how quickly things can change with the right chemistry. They just handed Alabama a painful loss, which is why the Tide dropped five spots this week.
Why the Analytics Disagree
If you look at KenPom or Bart Torvik, you’ll see something interesting. The human voters in the top 25 basketball rankings ncaa are obsessed with the "0" in the loss column. Arizona is their darling.
But the computers? They still think Michigan is the best team in the country despite that loss to Wisconsin. Michigan currently holds the No. 1 spot in most major efficiency metrics. They have the most efficient offense in the nation. It’s a classic "eye test vs. spreadsheet" debate that will probably only be settled when we get deeper into conference play.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Week 5 2025 Point Spreads: What Most People Get Wrong
Winners and Losers from the Latest Poll
Virginia is basically the biggest winner of the week. Ryan Odom has them playing a brand of basketball that feels like a rejuvenated version of the Tony Bennett era but with a bit more offensive spark. They jumped seven spots to No. 16. That’s huge.
On the flip side, Alabama is reeling. They went from being a projected top seed to sliding down to No. 18. Losses to Vanderbilt and Texas in the same week will do that to you. They have the talent, but the consistency just isn't there yet.
And then there's Kansas. Poor Kansas. The Jayhawks fell out of the poll entirely after a loss to West Virginia. This is the second time they’ve been unranked this season. For a program like that, it’s basically a crisis.
🔗 Read more: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
A Quick Look at the Conferences
The SEC is currently winning the "depth" battle with six teams in the Top 25. However, the Big 12 and Big Ten are top-heavy. Every team from those two conferences in the rankings is currently inside the top 15. That tells you that while the SEC has volume, the Big Ten and Big 12 have the true title contenders.
What to Watch for Next
Keep an eye on the schedule for January 14. Arizona is playing Arizona State, which should be a win, but rivalries are weird. The real game to watch is Vanderbilt heading to Texas. If the Commodores win that one on the road, the "are they for real?" talk is going to turn into "can they win it all?" talk.
How to Use These Rankings for Betting and Brackets
Don't just look at the number next to the name. Look at the trend. Virginia is trending up; Alabama is trending down.
- Watch the NET Rankings: The AP Poll is for fans; the NET is for the selection committee. Check the NET later this week to see where these teams actually sit for tournament seeding.
- Efficiency Matters: If a team is ranked high in the AP but low on KenPom (like Nebraska), be careful. Usually, the computers catch up to the humans eventually.
- Home/Road Splits: Many of these top 25 teams are dominant at home but struggle on the road. Check the "Away" records before you put money down.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, start watching the teams "receiving votes" like Saint Louis and Miami (Ohio). They are right on the cusp of breaking in.
Check the updated NET rankings on Thursday morning to compare how the committee views these teams versus the media voters. It's the best way to spot who is actually "overrated" in the current top 25.