Arkansas Slides to No. 18 in AP Top 25 After Houston Loss, Eyes Bounce-Back vs. JMU
The Arkansas Razorbacks took a step back in this week’s AP Top 25, sliding four spots to No. 18 after falling to No. 8 Houston, 94-86, in Newark over the weekend. It was a high-octane matchup against one of the nation’s toughest teams, but the loss leaves Arkansas with plenty to chew on heading into the holiday break.
The good news? The Hogs have time to regroup.
They won’t hit the floor again until Dec. 29, when they host James Madison in their final nonconference game of the season at Bud Walton Arena. After that, things get real - SEC play opens Jan. 3 with a heavyweight clash against No.
19 Tennessee in Fayetteville.
Arkansas Holding Steady in a Crowded SEC Field
The Razorbacks remain one of six SEC teams in the latest AP poll, a sign of just how competitive the conference is shaping up to be this season. Vanderbilt leads the SEC pack at No. 11, followed by Alabama (No.
14), Tennessee (No. 19), Florida (No. 22), and Georgia (No.
23). Kentucky, Auburn, and LSU didn’t crack the top 25 but are still receiving votes - a reminder that the SEC is deep, dangerous, and full of potential bracket-busters.
The Hogs’ ranking has been a bit of a rollercoaster this season. They opened the year at No. 14, dipped as low as No. 25 in Week 4, surged back up to No. 14 last week, and now settle in at No. 18 after the Houston setback. It’s been a season of highs and learning moments, and with SEC play looming, the margin for error only gets smaller from here.
National Landscape: Arizona Still on Top, Big Ten Dominates
At the top of the rankings, Arizona holds firm at No. 1 after dominant wins over Abilene Christian and San Diego State. The Wildcats pulled in 38 first-place votes, while No.
2 Michigan earned 19 and No. 3 Iowa State snagged one.
UConn, Purdue, Duke, and Gonzaga round out the top seven, with Houston staying put at No. 8 after outlasting Arkansas.
The Big Ten continues to flex its muscle, leading all conferences with seven ranked teams. The Big 12 checks in with five, and the ACC has four.
UConn remains the Big East’s lone representative at No. 4, while Gonzaga continues to carry the banner for programs outside the traditional power leagues at No. 7.
AP Voter Breakdown: Arkansas Gets Respect Despite Loss
Arkansas still has believers among AP voters. One of them, who represents the state on the AP panel, ranked the Razorbacks at No. 13 on his personal ballot - five spots higher than the official poll.
His reasoning? While the Hogs were clearly outplayed by Houston, the teams around them didn’t do enough to leapfrog them.
Texas Tech, for example, earned a bump to No. 15 on his ballot after a strong win over Duke, but the Red Raiders stayed behind Arkansas due to a head-to-head loss earlier this season.
Elsewhere on that ballot, Michigan held the top spot, narrowly edging out Arizona and Iowa State in what’s shaping up to be a tight three-team race for No. 1.
Nebraska continued its rise, moving to No. 14 thanks to its undefeated start. Louisville dropped to No. 18 after a blowout loss to Tennessee, which climbed to No.
Kentucky and Iowa both re-entered the top 25 on that ballot. The Wildcats earned their way back in after wins over Indiana and St. John’s, while Iowa’s recent performances - despite a light schedule - were enough to get them back in the mix.
What’s Next for Arkansas?
The Razorbacks have a chance to reset with a full week off before their next game. That Dec. 29 matchup against James Madison isn’t just a tune-up - it’s an opportunity to tighten things up before diving headfirst into SEC competition. Arkansas has shown flashes of elite potential this season, but consistency will be key if they want to climb back into the top 15 and stay there.
With matchups against Tennessee, Alabama, and Vanderbilt looming on the conference slate, the Razorbacks will need to bring their best every night. The Houston game showed they can hang with top-tier talent - now it’s about turning those lessons into wins when it matters most.