Arizona edges out Michigan as new No. 1 team in AP Top 25

Field Level Media|published: Mon 8th December, 14:07 2025

Dec 6, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) fouls Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) during the second half of the game at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Arizona edged out Michigan as the new No. 1 team in the Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll released Monday, replacing Purdue.

The Wildcats (8-0) earned 33 of the 60 first-place votes to reach No. 1 for the first time since December 2023. The Wolverines (8-0) received 19 votes and moved up a spot to No. 2, their highest ranking since 2021.

Four of Arizona's eight wins this season are against teams that were ranked at the time, including a 97-68 crushing of then-No. 20 Auburn on Saturday.

After winning the Player's Era championship the prior week, Michigan played just one game last week, opening Big Ten play with a 101-60 demolition of Rutgers.

Duke (10-0) also rose a spot to No. 3 with a pair of ranked wins last week over then-No. 15 Florida and at then-No. 7 Michigan State and received seven first-place votes.

Iowa State (9-0) was one of the biggest risers this week, jumping six spots to No. 4 after running away with an 81-58 win at Purdue on Saturday and earning one first-place vote. The Boilermakers (8-1) dropped five spots to No. 6 after taking their first loss of the season.

UConn (8-1) rounds out the top five after a 2-0 week that included a 61-56 win at then-No. 21 Kansas.

Houston (8-1), Gonzaga (9-1), Michigan State (8-1) and BYU (7-1) round out the top 10.

Tennessee (7-3) was the biggest faller in this week's poll, dropping seven spots to No. 20 after an 0-2 week which included a loss at Syracuse and a neutral-site loss to Illinois (7-2), which rose one spot to No. 13.

Arkansas (7-2) was the biggest riser, up eight spots to No. 17 after beating then-No. 6 Louisville 89-80 and following it up with a blowout of Fresno State.

Nebraska (9-0), Virginia (8-1) and UCLA (7-2) are new entries in this week's poll at Nos. 23, 24 and 25, respectively. They replace Indiana, USC and Kentucky, which fell out of this week's poll.

The rest of the Top 25:

11. Louisville (8-1)

12. Alabama (7-2)

14. North Carolina (8-1)

15. Vanderbilt (9-0)

16. Texas Tech (7-2)

18. Florida (5-3)

19. Kansas (7-3)

21. Auburn (7-3)

22. St. John's (5-3)

--Field Level Media