Arkansas Slides to No. 21 in AP Poll After Mixed Week; SEC Landscape Shifts
The Arkansas Razorbacks took a noticeable hit in the latest AP Top 25, dropping six spots to No. 21 after a rollercoaster week that saw them edge out Oklahoma on the road before falling short at home to Kentucky. It’s the biggest drop among ranked teams this week - a clear reflection of the Razorbacks’ recent inconsistency and the growing competitiveness within the SEC.
Arkansas managed to pull off an 83-79 win over Oklahoma last Tuesday, but it was far from dominant. The Sooners have been scrappy this season, especially at home, but they’re not exactly a team that should push a top-20 squad to the brink.
Then came Saturday’s 85-77 home loss to Kentucky, snapping Arkansas’ impressive 16-game winning streak at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky’s recent form - six wins in their last seven - is hard to ignore, and they’ve started to look more like the Wildcats fans expect in February.
Still, the Razorbacks’ defensive struggles in that game raised some red flags.
Now sitting at No. 21, Arkansas has some time to regroup before they head to Mississippi State for an early tip this Saturday. That matchup suddenly feels more pivotal than it did a few weeks ago, especially if the Razorbacks want to avoid slipping further in the rankings.
SEC Still Well-Represented, But Shifting
Despite Arkansas’ dip, the SEC remains well-represented in the Top 25. Vanderbilt leads the way at No. 15, followed by Florida at No. 17 and Tennessee rounding out the poll at No.
- Kentucky, Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Georgia were among those receiving votes, indicating a deep - if volatile - conference picture heading into the heart of league play.
Florida continues to be the most consistent of the group. Even after a home loss to Auburn, the Gators still look like the most complete team in the conference. Vanderbilt and Tennessee have both had their moments, and Kentucky’s recent surge has them knocking on the door again.
National Picture: Arizona Still on Top
At the top of the poll, Arizona held firm at No. 1 after taking care of business against BYU and Arizona State. The Wildcats are one of just two undefeated teams left in the country and earned every first-place vote this week. They’ve looked like the most complete team in college basketball, and there’s no real argument for anyone else to be in that top spot right now.
The rest of the top 10 features plenty of familiar names: Connecticut, Michigan, Duke, and Illinois round out the top five, followed by Gonzaga, Iowa State, Houston, Nebraska, and Michigan State. The Big 12 leads all conferences with six ranked teams, while the ACC and Big Ten each place five. The Big East has two, and the Atlantic 10, West Coast Conference, and Mid-America Conference each have one.
Arkansas' Season-Long Ranking Journey
The Razorbacks’ path through the rankings this season has been anything but steady. After opening the year at No. 14 in the preseason poll, they’ve bounced around the teens and twenties, peaking again at No. 14 in Week 6 before gradually slipping back.
This week’s drop to No. 21 marks their lowest position since Week 4. It’s been a season of ebbs and flows, and the next few weeks will determine whether Arkansas can stabilize and make a push for a higher seed come March.
Voter Breakdown: How Arkansas Is Viewed
Anthony Kristensen, Arkansas’ representative on the AP voting panel, dropped the Razorbacks two spots on his personal ballot this week, citing their shaky win over Oklahoma and defensive issues against Kentucky. He bumped Kentucky up to No. 21 on his list, giving credit to their strong recent stretch. Arkansas, meanwhile, landed at No. 22 on his ballot - a slight deviation from the consensus ranking.
Kristensen also made some notable shifts elsewhere:
- Nebraska dropped two spots after losses to Michigan and Illinois, despite being competitive in both games. Illinois, riding an 11-game win streak, moved ahead of the Cornhuskers.
- Purdue continued to slide after a loss to Indiana - their third loss in four games - and Kristensen admitted that while the Boilermakers are still elite, the recent form warranted a drop.
- Kansas moved up thanks to a strong week, including a win over BYU and a blowout of Kansas State, even with ongoing injury concerns.
- Florida stayed as Kristensen’s top-ranked SEC team for the third straight week, a nod to their overall consistency.
New Faces and Notable Omissions
Two teams made their way onto Kristensen’s ballot this week: Clemson and Kentucky. Clemson has quietly put together an impressive stretch, winning 11 of their last 12, while Kentucky’s win in Fayetteville was enough to earn a spot.
On the flip side, Alabama and Louisville fell off his ballot. Alabama’s recent struggles, including a blowout loss to Florida, paired with the controversy surrounding the addition of Charles Bediako, made them tough to keep in. Louisville picked up a quality win over SMU but was dismantled by Duke, which ultimately cost them a spot.
Teams on the Bubble
Just outside the Top 25, Kristensen mentioned UCF, Texas A&M, Iowa, and Utah State as the first teams left off his ballot. UCF and Texas A&M are turning heads with strong coaching and key wins, while Iowa has quietly put together a four-game win streak. Utah State is also building momentum, especially after a big win over San Diego State.
And while not quite ballot-ready yet, Belmont is a team to watch. The Bruins have won seven straight and are up to No. 57 on KenPom - their best mark since 2019. At 20-3, they’re on the outside looking in for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, but they’re trending in the right direction.
What’s Next for Arkansas?
The Razorbacks have a critical opportunity to bounce back this weekend at Mississippi State. With SEC play heating up and the margin for error shrinking, Arkansas will need to tighten up defensively and find some consistency if they want to climb back into the top 15 - or more importantly, position themselves for a strong NCAA Tournament run.
There’s still plenty of season left, but this week was a reminder: in a loaded SEC and a wide-open national field, every game matters.