Arizona’s grip on No. 1 is still intact — but it’s now as thin as it gets. The Wildcats held the top spot in the latest men’s AP Top 25 by one point, edging Michigan 1,494 to 1,493 in one of the closest No. 1 races in the poll’s long history.
Arizona (14-0) collected 32 of 61 first-place votes, while Michigan (13-0) grabbed the other 29 — a split that kept the season’s first poll of 2026 from becoming only the second time the AP men’s poll has produced a tie at No. 1.
The razor-thin margin reflects how dominant both programs have looked through the opening months. Arizona has been No. 1 for five straight polls, while Michigan has made up significant ground behind a stretch that included a rare feat: the Wolverines became the first team in the AP poll era to win three consecutive games against ranked opponents by 30-plus points.
Michigan coach Dusty May, speaking after a 96-66 blowout of then-No. 24 USC, sounded like a team bracing for the long season ahead rather than celebrating the climb. “All glory is fleeting,” May said.
For Michigan, the near-catch is also a reminder of how long it’s been since the Wolverines truly lived at the top: they haven’t been ranked No. 1 since Jan. 28, 2013 — and that stint lasted just one week.
The top tier stayed steady. The top six remained unchanged: Arizona, Michigan, Iowa State, UConn, Purdue and Duke.
But the broader Top 25 felt anything but calm, thanks to a surge of movement from programs that don’t typically headline January rankings conversations.
Nebraska’s breakthrough was the week’s loudest statement. The Cornhuskers (14-0) climbed into the top 10 — their first time reaching that territory since 1966 — after a tense 58-56 win over then-No. 9 Michigan State.
The win mattered for more than just a number next to Nebraska’s name. The Huskers are riding a nation-best 18-game winning streak dating back to last season and are off to the best start in school history, a combination that has turned every close finish into a credibility test they keep passing.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, never quick to hand out compliments after a loss, framed Nebraska’s moment as something bigger than one night. “Happy for Fred Hoiberg,” Izzo said. “That was probably the best game — their biggest game — in 36 years. They responded.”
Vanderbilt’s rise is no longer a cute early-season footnote. The Commodores stayed unbeaten and held at No. 11 — their highest ranking since being No. 7 in the 2011-12 preseason poll — and coach Mark Byington acknowledged the challenge ramping up quickly with SEC play.
The middle of the poll reshuffled around early conference results. Iowa made the biggest jump, climbing six spots to No. 19 after beating UCLA, while Georgia moved up five spots to No. 18. Kansas and North Carolina each dropped five after losses but remained ranked.
Two teams cracked the rankings: SMU checked in at No. 24 for its first ranking since 2016-17, and UCF landed at No. 25 for its first appearance since March 2019. USC and defending national champion Florida fell out.
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins described the Knights’ mindset in a way that reads like a warning to upcoming opponents: “We’re not just playing the opponent in front of us. We’re trying to play to our standards.”
Conference depth is already shaping the national picture. The Big 12 led the way with seven ranked teams (including four in the top 10), followed by six from the Big Ten. The ACC and SEC had five apiece.
What it adds up to is a poll that looks stable at the very top — but volatile everywhere else. Arizona may have survived another week at No. 1, but Michigan is close enough to make every upcoming game feel like a referendum. And with Nebraska pushing into historic territory and new teams forcing their way into the Top 25, the next few ballots could swing fast.
Source: Associated Press poll coverage as carried by ESPN.
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