The latest AP Top 25 poll dropped Monday, and while a few teams made serious noise, Purdue held steady at the top. The Boilermakers remain the No. 1 team in the country for the third straight week, fending off surging contenders like Arizona and Michigan. Purdue’s grip on that top spot might be tested soon, but for now, they’re still the team everyone’s chasing.
Michigan Makes a Statement
No team made a louder statement last week than Michigan. The Wolverines went 3-0 at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, and they didn’t just win - they dominated.
Blowout victories over Auburn, San Diego State, and Gonzaga vaulted Michigan four spots to No. 3 in the poll. That’s their highest ranking in years, and it marks the first time since the 2015-16 season that the Big Ten has two teams in the top three.
Michigan is now sitting at 7-0 heading into its Big Ten opener against Rutgers this weekend. They’re playing confident, physical basketball, and their early-season résumé is starting to look like one of the most impressive in the country. The Wolverines also picked up 15 first-place votes, a clear sign that voters are buying into the hype.
Florida Stumbles Again
While Michigan was rising, Florida was sliding. The reigning national champions were upset by TCU in an 84-80 loss - their second defeat of the young season.
The first came back in January against Missouri, and now the Gators find themselves down five spots to No. 15.
It’s not panic time in Gainesville, but the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Florida wasn’t the only SEC squad to take a hit. Alabama also dropped out of the top 10, falling from No. 8 to No. 12 after a loss to Gonzaga. These early-season bumps might not define the season, but they’re certainly reshaping the top of the rankings.
The Undefeated Eight
As we flip the calendar to December, there’s a stat worth keeping an eye on: 14 of the last 17 national champions were undefeated through November. That includes the last three title winners - Florida and UConn (twice). This year, eight teams made it through November without a loss: Purdue, Arizona, Duke, Michigan State, Indiana, USC, Oklahoma State, and UC San Diego.
It’s a group that blends expected powerhouses with a few surprises. And while being undefeated in November doesn’t guarantee a deep March run, history suggests it’s a pretty good place to start.
The Top 10 at a Glance
Here’s how the top of the AP poll looks heading into the first full week of December:
- Purdue (40 first-place votes)
- Arizona (6)
- Michigan (15)
- Duke
- UConn
- Louisville
- Michigan State
- Houston
- BYU
- Iowa State
Purdue’s matchup with No. 10 Iowa State this weekend should be one to circle.
If the Boilermakers can survive that test, they’ll likely extend their stay at the top. But with Michigan heating up and Arizona right there, the race for No. 1 is officially on.
St. John's Takes a Tumble
No team took a bigger hit in the rankings than St. John’s.
The Red Storm dropped nine spots to No. 23 after back-to-back losses to Iowa State and Auburn. Now sitting at 0-3 against ranked opponents and with three total losses, they’ve got the most defeats of any team still in the Top 25.
There’s still time for Rick Pitino’s squad to turn it around, but the next few weeks are going to be critical. Games against Ole Miss and Kentucky offer a chance to rebuild their résumé - or risk falling out of the rankings entirely.
USC Cracks the Rankings
USC is officially on the board. After winning the Maui Invitational and improving to 7-0, the Trojans enter the poll at No.
- Under second-year head coach Eric Musselman, USC is off to a strong start and now heads into Big Ten play with some serious momentum.
They’ll face Oregon and Washington this week as they look to keep the unbeaten streak alive.
Looking Ahead
The early season has already delivered its share of surprises, and December is shaping up to be just as unpredictable. With powerhouse programs jockeying for position and upstarts climbing the ladder, the AP Top 25 is anything but settled. Purdue may be the team to beat for now, but with Michigan charging, Arizona lurking, and a handful of undefeated teams still in the mix, the race for No. 1 is far from over.