Michigan Surges to No. 1 as Arizona’s Run Ends; Top 25 Shifts After Another Weekend of Shakeups

College basketball’s top of the rankings is shifting again after a weekend that produced a season-first loss for one elite team and a gutsy comeback for another. Michigan’s late rally vaulted the Wolverines into the No. 1 spot, while Arizona dropped after its first defeat of the season. The rest of the poll sees movement up and down as teams jockey for position heading into a slate of big conference tests this weekend.

Big moves at the top: Michigan to No. 1, Arizona falls

Michigan (23-1, 13-1 Big Ten) climbed to the top of the rankings after a ferocious comeback at Northwestern that turned into a comfortable 12-point victory. The timing matters: the Wolverines will now host a marquee opponent on Saturday at 12: 45 p. m. ET in what shapes up as a measuring-stick game for the new No. 1.

Arizona’s (23-1, 10-1 Big 12) first loss of the year — a setback at Kansas — dropped the Wildcats to No. 2. Arizona will look to rebound at home on Saturday evening at 6: 30 p. m. ET in a rematch that features two ranked programs with NCAA tournament implications.

Houston (22-2, 10-1 Big 12) moves up to No. 3 after a pair of big road wins, most notably a statement performance at BYU. The Cougars follow that road run with a home date on Saturday at 4: 00 p. m. ET against a struggling conference foe.

Top 25 overview: churn across conferences

Duke (22-2, 11-1 ACC) slipped to No. 4 following a one-point loss at a long-standing rival, leaving the Blue Devils to regroup ahead of a tough home game on Saturday at 12: 00 p. m. ET. UConn (23-2, 13-1 Big East) also dropped, to No. 5, after an unexpected defeat that snapped an 18-game winning streak; the Huskies return home to face a regional rival Saturday night at 8: 00 p. m. ET.

Kansas (19-5, 9-2 Big 12) earned a jump to No. 6 after handling Arizona without one of its key scorers, and now faces a ranked road test on Saturday at 1: 00 p. m. ET. Purdue (20-4, 10-3 Big Ten) rose to No. 7 following an upset win at Nebraska and will look to sustain momentum on the road at 5: 00 p. m. ET Saturday.

Michigan State (20-4, 10-3 Big Ten) rebounded into the top 10 with a statement win over a conference rival and travels to face a tough opponent tonight at 8: 00 p. m. ET. Florida (18-6, 9-2 SEC) cracked the top 10 at No. 9 after three straight wins, the last two away from home; the Gators host a ranked rival Saturday at 3: 00 p. m. ET.

Iowa State (21-3, 8-3 Big 12) fell to No. 10 after a surprising road loss and now faces a stiff test when Kansas visits Ames on Saturday at 1: 00 p. m. ET. Nebraska (21-3, 10-3 Big Ten) dropped to No. 11 despite rallying from 22 points down to force overtime in a loss; the Cornhuskers remain at home Saturday at 1: 00 p. m. ET.

Illinois tumbled to No. 12 after back-to-back setbacks, and the Fighting Illini will try to right the ship Sunday at 1: 00 p. m. ET. St. John’s rose to No. 13 after snapping UConn’s streak and travels for a midday clash Saturday at 1: 00 p. m. ET. North Carolina (No. 14) and Virginia (No. 15) each held onto spots inside the top 15, with both teams facing conference contests that could shape seeding conversations heading into March.

Gonzaga’s back-to-back wins regained momentum and place the Bulldogs at No. 16; they play a late Saturday tip at 10: 30 p. m. ET. Texas Tech landed at No. 17 after consecutive victories and will make the trip to Arizona for the evening showdown at 6: 30 p. m. ET.

What to watch this weekend

The storylines are clear: can Michigan justify its new No. 1 billing against a top-tier opponent? Will Arizona bounce back immediately after its first loss, or will the Wildcats show cracks? Kansas’s ability to win without a primary scorer, the stability of Houston on the road, and the resilience of teams like Purdue and Michigan State will all influence how the top 25 looks next week.

With several ranked teams facing head-to-head tests and conference standings tight, this weekend’s outcomes could produce another significant shake-up. Expect coaches to emphasize defense and late-game execution — the margins at this stage are razor-thin, and a single result can trigger a chain reaction through the poll.