After a break in the final weeks of the 2025 calendar year, the men’s AP Top 25 Poll returns in 2026.
Nebraska dropped from 13th to 10th, while Michigan State dropped from 9th to 12th – the top 10 would otherwise remain intact, Houston and Gonzaga would swap spots, and BYU would remain one spot.
Florida and USC dropped out while SMU and UCF moved up in the rankings after big wins over North Carolina and Kansas, respectively.
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 , 7
Previous ranking: 1
2025-26 records: 14-0
Statistics to know: One of six undefeated teams in Division I, the Wildcats’ 14-game winning streak is tied for their third-longest to start a season in program history. They got 21 consecutive wins in 2013–14, 16 consecutive wins in 2011–32 and 14 consecutive wins in 2012–13.
What will happen next: Wednesday vs. Kansas State, 9 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 2
2025-26 records: 13-0
Statistics to know: The Wolverines are 3–0 against AP-ranked teams this season, winning all of them by 30 or more points. This makes them the first team in AP poll history with three. Straight Wins by 30 points against AP-ranked teams. Joining 1993–94 Minnesota and 1996–97 Kentucky, they are the third team in AP Poll history with three 30-point wins against ranked teams in a season.
What will happen next: Tuesday @ Penn State, 7pm, FS1
Previous ranking: 3
2025-26 records: 14-0
Statistics to know: One of six undefeated teams in DI this season, the Cyclones are tied with 2013–14 for their best start in program history. The 14-game winning streak ties Miami (OH) for the second-longest active winning streak in DI – only Nebraska has more with 18.
What will happen next: Wednesday @ Baylor, 8pm, Peacock
Previous ranking: 4
2025-26 records: 14-1
Statistics to know: The Huskies have won 10 in a row this season, their longest single-season winning streak since finishing with 13 consecutive wins and a national championship in 2023-24. This is their second 14–1 or better start in the last 15 seasons, along with the 2022–23 national championship-winning season.
What will happen next: Wednesday @ Providence, 5 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN
Previous ranking: 5
2025-26 records: 13-1
Statistics to know: Braden Smith now owns the Big Ten career assist record, surpassing Cassius Winston with 12 assists in the win against Wisconsin.
What will happen next: Wednesday vs Washington, 8:30 PM, BTN
Previous ranking: 6
2025-26 records: 13-1
Statistics to know: Duke has won 13 of its first 14 games in a season for the sixth time in the last 15 years.
What will happen next: Tuesday @ Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 8
2025-26 records: 13-1
Statistics to know: Kingston Flemings had a team-leading 19 points, 6 assists and 5 steals in Houston’s narrow win against Cincinnati. After scoring 21 points, 5 assists and 8 steals against Florida State on December 6, he is the only freshman in Division I with more than one game of 15 points, 5 assists and 5 steals this season.
What will happen next: Tuesday vs. Texas Tech, 9 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 7
2025-26 records: 16-1
Statistics to know: Since first joining a Division I conference in 1963–64 (then the Big Sky), Gonzaga has won 90 games by at least 30 points in conference play. The next closest DI team to wins in this span is Kentucky with 71. Mark Few has been responsible for 79 of those 90 wins since he became head coach in 1999–2000. The next closest team to wins in that span is Belmont with 38.
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Santa Clara, 11:30 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 10
2025-26 records: 13-1
Statistics to know: BYU has won 10 consecutive games, its first such win since Jimmer Fredette won 10 consecutive games during Jimmer Fredette’s senior season in 2010–2011. This is, overall, the Cougars’ best start to a season since the 2010–11 season, when it also started 13–1.
What will happen next: Wednesday vs. Arizona State, 9 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN
Previous ranking: 13
2025-26 records: 14-0
Statistics to know: Nebraska got its first home win in an AP-ranked matchup since defeating Kansas in 1991. The win against Michigan State on Saturday was its second overall vs. a ranked win this season, after defeating then-No. 13 Illinois on the road December 13. The Cornhuskers had won only three ranked matchups in program history prior to this season. Their 18-win streak (from last season) is the longest active winning streak in Division I and the longest in program history.
What will happen next: Monday @ Ohio State, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 11
2025-26 records: 14-0
Statistics to know: This is the second time in school history that Vanderbilt – one of six undefeated men’s DI teams – has started the season 14–0. The second time was 2007–08, when it started 16–0.
What will happen next: Wednesday vs. Alabama, 9 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 9
2025-26 records: 12-2
Statistics to know: Jackson Kohler Michigan owns State’s longest double-double streak (5) after the loss to Nebraska, dating back to seven consecutive under Paul Davis between 2004–06.
What will happen next: Monday vs. USC, 8:30 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 14
2025-26 records: 11-3
Statistics to know: Alabama now has 34 games in which it has made 15 or more 3s under Nate Oats (since 2019-20). The Tide trails only North Florida (36 games) in Division I in this regard.
What will happen next: Wednesday @ Vanderbilt, 9 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 15
2025-26 records: 9-3
Statistics to know: There have been four instances of a Texas Tech player scoring or assisting at least 50 points in a game in the last 15 seasons – all coming from Christian Anderson this season. These are also the four highest games in terms of “points” scored by a Texas Tech player in the last 25 years.
What will happen next: Tuesday @ Houston, 9pm, FS1
Previous ranking: 18
2025-26 records: 11-3
Statistics to know: Head coach John Calipari is now tied with Rick Barnes for most career wins among active coaches with 846.
What will happen next: Wednesday @ Ole Miss, 9 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 20
2025-26 records: 11-3
Statistics to know: Illinois has posted 14 consecutive wins over unranked opponents, which is tied for the longest such win streak in the last 20 seasons (last seen February–November 2024).
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Rutgers, 8:30 PM, BTN
Previous ranking: 12
2025-26 records: 13-2
Statistics to know: The Tar Heels allowed 97 points in a 14-point loss to SMU over the weekend – the most points they have allowed against an unranked team since Wake Forest scored 98 points in 2022. The 14-point margin as a ranked team against an unranked team is their largest since losing by 21 to Louisville in 2019.
What will happen next: Saturday vs. Wake Forest, 6 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: 23
2025-26 records: 13-1
Statistics to know: Georgia leads the nation in scoring (99.4 points per game) as well as blocks (7.9 per game).
What will happen next: Tuesday @ Florida, 7pm, SEC Network
Previous ranking: 25
2025-26 records: 12-2
Statistics to know: Iowa’s 12 wins are the team’s most wins in 14 games since 2020-21 (12-2).
What will happen next: Tuesday @ Minnesota, 8pm, BTN
Previous ranking: 16
2025-26 records: 11-3
Statistics to know: Louisville is now 1-3 on the season after Friday’s loss to Stanford. It was 9-2 on the road last season. However, there is one bright spot: The Cardinals are 10-0 at home or at a neutral site this season.
What will happen next: Tuesday vs. Duke, 7 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 19
2025-26 records: 10-4
Statistics to know: Tennessee lost its SEC conference opener on Saturday despite shooting better than Arkansas from the field (49% vs. 42%) and from the 3-point line (38% vs. 30%). The Vols lost the game at 12-for-23 (53%) at the free throw line compared to the Razorbacks’ 88% (29-for-33).
What will happen next: Tuesday vs. Texas, 9 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 17
2025-26 records: 10-4
Statistics to know: Darrin Peterson has scored 103 points in 128 minutes of playing time so far this season. Those 103 points are the fourth-most in Big 12 history in five career games behind Michael Beasley (150), Trae Young (141) and Kevin Durant (112).
What will happen next: Tuesday vs. TCU, 8 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 21
2025-26 records: 12-2
Statistics to know: Virginia was 13-for-33 from beyond the arc in Saturday’s 15-point win over NC State — the Cavaliers’ sixth game this season attempting more than 30 3s, their most in a season since at least 1996-97.
What will happen next: Wednesday vs. California, 9 p.m., ACC Network
Previous ranking: uncategorized
2025-26 records: 12-2
Statistics to know: SMU’s 97-83 win over North Carolina last Saturday was the Mustangs’ first win against a Top 25 team since the 2021-22 season. This snapped a 12-game losing streak against ranked opponents.
What will happen next: Wednesday at Clemson, 9 p.m., ESPNU
Previous ranking: uncategorized
2025-26 records: 12-1
Statistics to know: UCF’s 81-75 win over Kansas last Saturday marked the second time in the last three seasons the Knights beat a Jayhawks team at home.
What will happen next: Tuesday at Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., ESPN+
