Arizona has been voted the unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the first time after collecting all 61 first‑place votes in Monday’s ballot. The 18‑0 Wildcats secured victories in both games last week to remain among college basketball’s three unbeaten Division I teams, while Iowa State’s two losses dropped the Cyclones and opened the path to Arizona’s clean sweep. Nebraska, also 18‑0, rose to a program‑best ranking at No. 7, and the poll welcomed Saint Louis (No. 24) and Miami (Ohio) (No. 25) back into the Top 25.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona received all 61 first‑place votes in this week’s AP poll and sits 18‑0, marking the program’s first unanimous No. 1 designation per Sportradar.
- Arizona has held the No. 1 spot for six consecutive weeks, its longest streak since an eight‑week run in 2013‑14 when the team began 21‑0.
- Nebraska is 18‑0 and moved up to No. 7, the highest ranking in program history.
- Saint Louis (17‑1) returns to the Top 25 at No. 24 after extending its winning streak to 11 games.
- Miami (Ohio) returns at No. 25, its first AP ranking since a three‑week run in 1998‑99; the RedHawks beat Buffalo 105‑102 in overtime on Pete Suder’s late 3‑pointer.
- Iowa State fell seven spots to No. 9 after two losses; North Carolina dropped eight places after being swept in ACC play.
- Kansas reentered the poll at No. 19; Tennessee, Utah State and Seton Hall all dropped out of this week’s Top 25.
- The Big 12 leads conferences with six ranked teams; the SEC, Big Ten and ACC each have five apiece.
Background
The AP Top 25 is a weekly media poll that has long served as a snapshot of perceived national pecking order in college basketball. Voters — a media panel — submit ballots ranking the top 25 teams each week; points are totaled to produce the composite poll. Since Arizona opened this season undefeated, attention has grown on whether the Wildcats could sustain a run at No. 1; this week they converted that attention into a unanimous result. Historical context matters: Arizona’s six‑week stay at the top is the program’s best stretch in nearly a decade, though the 2013‑14 team recorded an eight‑week run while starting 21‑0.
The poll’s movement also reflects parity and volatility in 2025‑era college basketball. Programs such as Nebraska and Saint Louis have climbed amid winning streaks, while others — including Iowa State and North Carolina — have tumbled after unexpected losses. Conference strength is a frequent lens for both selection committees and voters; the Big 12’s six teams in the Top 25 underscore its depth this season, compared with one ranked team each from the Big East, West Coast Conference, Atlantic 10 and Mid‑American Conference.
Main Event
Arizona’s sweep of first‑place votes followed wins in both of its games last week, preserving an 18‑0 record and leaving the Wildcats among three remaining unbeaten Division I teams. Iowa State, which had received one first‑place vote in the prior ballot, lost twice and slid seven spots to No. 9 — a precipitous fall that opened room atop the poll. The Wildcats have now been No. 1 for six straight weeks, a run that drew comparisons to their 2013‑14 start.
Nebraska, also unbeaten at 18‑0, continued its rise by winning both matchups last week and moving up to No. 7 — the highest ranking in the program’s history. That ascent highlights the Huskers’ strong nonconference and early conference performance and has prompted renewed attention on their NCAA tournament prospects should they remain unbeaten into March. Meanwhile, Clemson (+4 to No. 18) and Texas Tech (+3 to No. 12) were among the notable movers after productive weeks.
On the other end, North Carolina suffered the week’s biggest drop, sliding eight places after being swept by conference opponents from the ACC’s Bay Area schools. Vanderbilt, whose undefeated run ended with losses to Texas and No. 16 Florida, fell five spots to No. 15. Kansas returned to the poll at No. 19 after ending Iowa State’s unbeaten streak and following an 18‑point win over Baylor.
Saint Louis and Miami (Ohio) were the only two teams newly added to the Top 25 this week. Saint Louis, at 17‑1, reentered the rankings for the first time since a No. 22 placement in 2021 after extending an 11‑game winning streak. Miami (Ohio) rejoined the poll for the first time since 1998‑99; the RedHawks dominated Central Michigan and narrowly escaped an overtime thriller with Buffalo, 105‑102, clinched on Pete Suder’s 3‑pointer with just over one second left.
Analysis & Implications
Arizona’s unanimous designation signals both respect from the media panel and the practical effect of Iowa State’s losses. In a poll decided by aggregated media ballots, a clear unbeaten resume paired with key wins is often rewarded. The unanimous vote also carries symbolic weight for Arizona’s program, validating national perception after weeks at the top and potentially affecting seeding narratives as the season progresses.
Nebraska’s emergence as an 18‑0 team ranked No. 7 illustrates how mid‑major momentum and nonconference scheduling can vault programs into national relevance. Maintaining that position will require continued consistency in conference play, where strength of schedule and signature wins typically matter most for postseason selection committees.
The movement of traditional powers — Kansas returning, North Carolina sliding — underscores the fluidity of this season. Weekly polls react quickly to results, and a short stretch of losses can shift public and media evaluation sharply. For bubble teams and conference positioning, the Top 25 functions as both a barometer of respect and a narrative driver for selection debates.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Prev. Rank | Current Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 8 | 7 | +1 |
| Iowa State | 2 | 9 | -7 |
| North Carolina | 14 | 22 | -8 |
| Saint Louis | NR | 24 | +— |
| Miami (Ohio) | NR | 25 | +— |
This snapshot highlights how a handful of results can produce sizable swings in the poll. Teams entering the Top 25 typically do so after multi‑game winning streaks or signature victories; conversely, highly ranked teams that lose to unranked opponents often face steep declines. Conference distribution — with the Big 12 holding six ranked teams — further frames the national landscape in power balance and quality of weekly opposition.
Reactions & Quotes
Below are concise excerpts and attributions that reflect official poll data and third‑party recordkeeping; these are presented as factual statements from the cited sources.
“The Wildcats received all 61 first‑place votes from a media panel in Monday’s poll.”
Associated Press (poll results)
The AP’s tally of first‑place votes provides the formal basis for calling Arizona unanimous. That figure — 61 of 61 — is the metric most commonly referenced when describing unanimity in the AP Top 25.
“This marks the program’s first unanimous No. 1 ranking, according to Sportradar.”
Sportradar (sports data provider)
Sportradar maintains historical voting data that informs whether a school has previously received unanimous support; the company’s databases are frequently used by media outlets to verify historical firsts.
Unconfirmed
- Sportradar’s designation that this is Arizona’s first unanimous No. 1 is based on their historical database; independent archival verification of every prior season’s voter totals is not provided in AP’s report.
- Full individual voter ballots and motivations are not publicly released; therefore, detailed reasoning behind each voter’s placement remains unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
Arizona’s unanimous No. 1 in the AP poll is both a reflection of an unbeaten 18‑0 start and of recent losses by previous challengers that cleared the way atop the media rankings. The recognition cements Arizona’s status in national conversation, but polls are a rolling assessment: sustained performance in conference play will ultimately determine postseason positioning.
Meanwhile, the returns of Saint Louis and Miami (Ohio) underscore how streaks and dramatic late‑game finishes can reinstate programs into national view. As the season progresses, weekly swings in the Top 25 will continue to offer an evolving picture of which teams are true national contenders and which are merely riding hot runs.