The seventh season edition of the men’s AP Top 25 poll featured a notable change at the top.
While Arizona and Michigan maintained their spots at No. 1 and 2, respectively, Duke dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 after suffering its first loss of the season on Saturday: a 17-point, second-half comeback by Texas Tech. This resulted in Iowa State, UConn and Purdue moving up one spot each, although the top 10 otherwise remained the same from week-to-week.
Further down the board, St. John’s and Auburn dropped out, while USC and Iowa joined the mix.
Let’s look at statistical highlights and the next game for each of the Top 25 teams.
Eastern all the time. All statistics are courtesy of ESPN Research unless otherwise noted.
Previous surveys: pre season , week 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6
Previous ranking: 1
2025-26 records: 11-0
Statistics to know: Arizona has won six consecutive games by 20 or more points, the longest active winning streak in Division I. This marks the seventh time the Wildcats have opened the season at 11–0.
What will happen next: Monday vs. Bethune-Cookman, 9 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 2
2025-26 records: 11-0
Statistics to know: Michigan’s six 100-point games are the most in Division I this season. Sunday’s 102-50 win over La Salle was the Wolverines’ fifth win by 40 or more points, tying 1991-91 Indiana and 1988-89 Michigan for the most in Big Ten history (since 1905-06).
What will happen next: Dec 29 vs McNeese, 7pm, B1G+
Previous ranking: 4
2025-26 records: 12-0
Statistics to know: Iowa State’s 91-60 win over Long Beach State on Sunday was the program’s seventh win by 25 or more points this season, tied for most in Division I and trailing only Michigan.
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. Houston Christian, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 5
2025-26 records: 12-1
Statistics to know: UConn is off to its best start since 2022-23, when the Huskies began their national-championship-winning campaign at 14-0. alex karban Cementing himself at No. 6 with 240 career 3s after a 3-for-6 effort against DePaul on Sunday, he is closing in on the list of most 3-pointers made in program history.
What will happen next: December 31st, Zeiver, 5pm, Peacock
Previous ranking: 6
2025-26 records: 11-1
Statistics to know: Braden Smith Led the Big Ten in point-assist double-doubles after posting his third of the season with 11 points and 14 assists in Sunday’s win over Auburn. He became the first Purdue player with at least 10 assists in three consecutive games in at least 20 seasons.
What will happen next: December 29 vs Kent State, 7 PM, B1G+
Previous ranking: 3
2025-26 records: 11-1
Statistics to know: Duke suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, allowing Texas Tech to mount a 17-point comeback in an 82–81 victory at Madison Square Garden. This was the Blue Devils’ largest lead since 2007; This broke his 69–0 winning streak when he was leading John Scheyer by more than 15 points (from 2022–23).
What will happen next: Dec. 31 vs. Georgia Tech, 4 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: 7
2025-26 records: 12-1
Statistics to know: Gonzaga is off to its best start since 2020-21, when it started 31-0 and ultimately lost to Baylor in the national championship. It was the Zags’ ninth game of more than 90 points, tying Akron and Alabama for the most points in Division I this season.
What will happen next: Sunday at Pepperdine, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 8
2025-26 records: 11-1
Statistics to know: With Saturday’s 94-85 win over Arkansas, Houston improved to 37-0 when scoring 90 or more points under Kelvin Sampson (since 2014-15).
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 9
2025-26 records: 11-1
Statistics to know: Jackson Kohler With his 13 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday’s win over Oakland, he became the first Michigan State player to record three consecutive double-doubles since Xavier Tillman in 2019-20.
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. Cornell, 7 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 10
2025-26 records: 11-1
Statistics to know: AJ DiBantsa He had a career-high 35 points on Friday against Abilene Christian, the second-most single-game points by a freshman in BYU history. Danny Ainge had 36 points against Idaho State in 1977–78.
What will happen next: Monday vs. Eastern Washington, 9 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 13
2025-26 records: 12-0
Statistics to know: Vanderbilt is riding its longest winning streak to start the season since starting the 2007–08 campaign 16–0.
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. New Haven, 6 p.m.
Previous ranking: 12
2025-26 records: 11-1
Statistics to know: North Carolina is off to its best start since 2008–09, when the Tar Heels started their season 13–0 and ultimately won the national title.
What will happen next: Monday vs. East Carolina, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: 15
2025-26 records: 12-0
Statistics to know: Nebraska is off to its best start in program history. Its 16-game winning streak dating back to last season is also the longest winning streak in school history.
What will happen next: Dec. 30 vs. New Hampshire, 9 p.m., Big Ten Network
Previous ranking: 16
2025-26 records: 9-3
Statistics to know: Alabama recorded its ninth game of 90 or more points with a 92-81 win over Kennesaw State on Sunday, tying Kent State and Gonzaga in Division I play this season.
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. Yale, 8 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 19
2025-26 records: 9-3
Statistics to know: Texas Tech recorded the largest comeback win of any team against an AP top-three team since 2017-18 with a 17-point victory over previously unbeaten Duke on Saturday.
What will happen next: Sunday vs. Winthrop, 2 p.m., TNT
Previous ranking: 11
2025-26 records: 10-2
Statistics to know: Louisville improved to 8-0 against unranked opponents with a 94-54 win over Montana on Saturday — the Cardinals’ fourth win by 40 or more points, tied with Michigan and Kentucky for the most in Division I this season.
What will happen next: Dec. 30, Cal, 9 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: 17
2025-26 records: 9-3
Statistics to know: flory bidunga Posted his fifth double-double this season, tied for most in the Big 12, with 18 points and 10 rebounds last week against Towson.
What will happen next: Monday vs. Davidson, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 14
2025-26 records: 9-3
Statistics to know: Darius Acuff Jr.Became the first Arkansas freshman with three straight 20-point games in at least the last 20 seasons with his career-high 27 points in Saturday’s loss to Houston,
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. James Madison, 8 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 20
2025-26 records: 9-3
Statistics to know: Tennessee is on a 43-game non-conference home winning streak, tying a program record.
What will happen next: Dec. 30 vs. South Carolina State, 8 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 18
2025-26 records: 8-3
Statistics to know: Illinois has not played a game since its first home loss of the season to Nebraska on December 13. All three of its losses have come against ranked opponents (Alabama and UConn).
What will happen next: Monday in Missouri, 8 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 24
2025-26 records: 10-1
What will happen next: Monday vs. American University, 6 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: 23
2025-26 records: 8-4
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. Dartmouth, 6 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 25
2025-26 records: 10-1
What will happen next: Monday vs. West Georgia, 2 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: uncategorized
2025-26 records: 12-1
What will happen next: Jan. 2 at Michigan, 7 p.m., Peacock
Previous ranking: uncategorized
2025-26 records: 10-2
What will happen next: Dec. 29 vs. UMass Lowell, 5 p.m., Big Ten Network
