Men’s college basketball Power Rankings: Michigan leaps to No. 1

It has been a revolving door at No. 1 the previous couple of weeks. Purdue opened the 2025-26 season within the high spot however obtained changed by Arizona after the Wildcats received at UConn in mid-November — arguably the only most spectacular victory of the season to this point. If not for a Energy Rankings hiatus for Thanksgiving, the Boilermakers would have taken the No. 1 spot again only a couple days later once they blew out Texas Tech within the Bahamas.

As an alternative of a debate between the Wildcats and Boilermakers, although, a 3rd workforce emerged throughout Feast Week — and finally jumped each groups to rise to No. 1.

Michigan‘s efficiency on the Gamers Period Championship in Las Vegas was maybe the perfect Feast Week run we have ever seen. Three wins over potential NCAA match groups — San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga, the final of which regarded like a No. 1 candidate earlier than the loss — by a mixed 110 factors. The Wolverines rose to No. 1 in practically each metric, from KenPom to Bart Torvik to the NET.

A few of the stats have been merely eye-popping, with this one standing out:

Michigan is the primary workforce within the AP Ballot period (since 1948-49) with consecutive 30-point wins, each coming towards ranked opponents 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6YRG6siO1s

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) November 27, 2025

Dusty Might has the perfect protection within the nation and a workforce that is big, deep, previous and might win enjoying other ways. Getting into the second quarter of the common season, Michigan is the nationwide title favourite — and No. 1 this week.

Earlier rating: 13

When it comes to particular person performances from Vegas, UAB switch Yaxel Lendeborg was, frankly, mildly disappointing by means of the primary couple video games of the season, averaging 10.5 factors and 4.5 rebounds and never trying just like the first-round draft choose Michigan thought it was getting out of the portal. That is modified shortly, and Lendeborg has performed himself into the Participant of the Yr dialogue. Over the previous 5 video games, he is averaging 18.2 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals — whereas taking pictures 43.5% from 3.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Rutgers (Dec. 6), vs. Villanova (Dec. 9)

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Earlier rating: 2

Saturday’s matchup towards Iowa State will characteristic the nation’s greatest offense towards one of many nation’s elite defenses. The Cyclones thrive off defensive stress, forcing turnovers at a better clip than anybody in faculty basketball. Braden Smith ought to be as much as the duty, though a head-to-head matchup between Smith and Tamin Lipsey — ought to the latter play, having missed three straight video games with a lower-body harm and sure a game-time determination — might be particular. Do not ignore Trey Kaufman-Renn vs. Joshua Jefferson, two of the perfect energy forwards within the nation, both.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Iowa State (Dec. 6), vs. Minnesota (Dec. 10)

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Earlier rating: 1

Can Arizona proceed to win at a excessive stage whereas nonetheless taking pictures — or not taking pictures — the way in which it does? The Wildcats have made simply two 3s in three of the primary seven video games, together with the wins over Florida and UConn. By one month, they rank 359th in 3-point try fee (26.8%), though they’re making triples at a 37.2% clip. For some historic context, solely seven NCAA match groups ranked within the backside 50 in 3-point makes an attempt final season, together with Michigan State and St. John’s. Two seasons in the past, 9 match groups ranked within the backside 50, however none superior to the second weekend.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Auburn (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: 5

We have nonetheless but to see a totally wholesome UConn, however the model we have gotten by means of the primary month of the season is sweet sufficient to compete for a 3rd title in 4 years. Braylon Mullins made his debut towards Illinois final week and did not take lengthy to point out why the Huskies have been so desirous to get him on the ground. He was a key catalyst within the win at Kansas, ending with 17 factors and three 3-pointers. In the meantime, Tarris Reed Jr. returned towards the Illini however performed solely quarter-hour, then sat towards Kansas. Freshman Eric Reibe has offered an enormous carry in Reed’s absence, averaging 12.8 factors and 6.3 boards over the previous 4 video games.

Subsequent seven days: vs. East Texas A&M (Dec. 5), vs. Florida within the Jimmy V Traditional in New York (Dec. 9)

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Earlier rating: 7

Cameron Boozer continues to determine himself as the best participant in faculty basketball, and the front-runner for each Freshman of the Yr and Participant of the Yr. After a few “down” video games towards Kansas and Niagara, his previous three video games, towards Howard, Arkansas and Florida, have resulted in averages of 30.0 factors, 9.0 rebounds and three.0 assists, taking pictures practically 65% from the sphere and 44% from 3. Boozer’s 90 factors in three video games is probably the most by a Duke participant in a three-game span since JJ Redick in 2006 and probably the most by a Duke freshman in program historical past, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.

Subsequent seven days: @ Michigan State (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: 8

The constant dominance with which Michigan State is enjoying proper now’s extremely spectacular. The Spartans have scored between 1.21 and 1.24 factors per possession in 4 straight video games, and so they’ve but to permit a single opponent to achieve 1.00 factors per possession. Jeremy Fears Jr. can be enjoying the perfect basketball of his profession, main the nation in assists and turning into a extra dependable menace as a scorer. He has hit double figures in scoring 5 occasions thus far this season, together with 19 factors towards North Carolina and 14 factors towards Iowa.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Duke (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: 17

Joshua Jefferson has quietly performed himself into the Nationwide Participant of the Yr dialogue, averaging profession highs — 18.4 factors, 7.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists — throughout the board. What makes his season much more spectacular, although, is how a lot his recreation has developed over the course of his profession. The 6-foot-9 senior has turn out to be one of many elite playmaking bigs within the nation, meting out 10 assists in every of his previous two video games. This can be a participant who had 76 assists whole in 60 video games at Saint Mary’s. If Iowa State is with out Lipsey towards Purdue, Jefferson will once more be the offensive fulcrum.

Subsequent seven days: @ Purdue (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: 12

Gonzaga regarded like one of many elite groups in faculty basketball previous to its 40-point loss to Michigan within the Gamers Period title recreation. Regardless of the lopsided defeat, the Zags are nonetheless possible in that dialog. Mark Few made a lineup change after the primary 4 video games of the season, inserting Mario Saint-Supery on the level guard spot and Tyon Grant-Foster on the wing. In accordance with BartTorvik.com, Gonzaga was No. 52 in offense and No. 2 in protection in its first 4 video games; that has flipped to No. 25 in offense and No. 45 in protection because the lineup change. When you take away the Michigan recreation, it is No. 3 on offense and No. 23 on protection.

Subsequent seven days: @ Kentucky (Dec. 5), vs. North Florida (Dec. 7)

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Earlier rating: 11

Coach Kevin Younger has singled out Robert Wright III as the first motive for BYU’s improved play over the previous couple of weeks. The Baylor switch was at it once more towards California Baptist on Wednesday night time, ending with 15 factors, 11 assists, three steals and only one turnover, going 3-for-5 from 3-point vary. Over his previous 4 video games, Wright is averaging 16.3 factors, 8.0 assists, 2.3 steals and taking pictures 9-for-15 from 3-point vary — whereas turning it over simply eight occasions.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Clemson within the Jimmy V Traditional in New York (Dec. 9)

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Earlier rating: 4

We’re nonetheless ready for Nate Oats to have his full allotment of gamers, however the Crimson Tide proceed to seek out impactful gamers on their bench. Aden Holloway was the newest addition to the harm report Wednesday, becoming a member of Latrell Wrightsell and Keitenn Bristow. And whereas Miami switch Jalil Bethea made his debut towards Clemson, it was freshmen Amari Allen and London Jemison and sophomore huge man Aiden Sherrell who stepped up towards the Tigers. Allen had his fourth straight double-figure scoring recreation and first profession double-double; Jemison scored in double figures for his third straight recreation; and Sherrell posted 10 boards and eight blocks.

Subsequent seven days: vs. UTSA (Dec. 7)

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Earlier rating: 16

Hubert Davis might need discovered one thing late within the win over Kentucky: Freshman guard Derek Dixon hit the go-ahead 3 with just below a minute to go after which drove for the eventual game-winning layup with 16 seconds to go. Dixon performed a season-high 24 minutes towards the Wildcats, with place to begin guard Kyan Evans enjoying a season-low 16. Dixon supplies additional physicality and athleticism within the backcourt, and he clearly has the moxie to take — and make — huge photographs late in video games. It is a place battle to observe.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Georgetown (Dec. 7)

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Earlier rating: 3

By one month of the season, Houston is clearly not what folks anticipated getting into the marketing campaign. However there isn’t any must sound any alarm bells or promote all of your Houston inventory. Exiting the Gamers Period Competition final yr, Kelvin Sampson’s workforce was 4-3 with losses to Auburn, Alabama and San Diego State. The Cougars had allowed at the very least 1.12 factors per possession in all three video games. They misplaced only one recreation the remainder of the common season, permitting solely two groups to hit that factors per possession mark.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Florida State (Dec. 6), vs. Jackson State (Dec. 10)

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Earlier rating: 6

Louisville’s success on the offensive finish is based on a couple of various things: tempo, factors off turnovers and quantity 3-point taking pictures. The Cardinals struggled with all three towards Arkansas on Wednesday. They did not have a single fast-break level or a single level off turnovers within the first half and had their worst 3-point taking pictures efficiency since Dec. 11 of final season (8-for-37). Regardless of all of that, they have been within the recreation late — however then additionally occurred to have their worst defensive efficiency of the season and could not get essential stops. They will have possibilities to bounce again with Indiana, Memphis and Tennessee up subsequent.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Indiana in Indianapolis (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: 10

Kylan Boswell is having by far the perfect season of his profession, but it surely’s not simply the numbers — profession highs throughout the board — which might be leaping out. It is the way in which he has carried out within the Illini’s greatest video games. He had 22 factors and three 3s within the huge win over Texas Tech in early November, 22 factors and 7 assists within the loss to Alabama, and he was Brad Underwood’s greatest participant within the defeat to UConn. He went for 25 factors and 9 rebounds towards the Huskies, carrying the remainder of the workforce for stretches.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Tennessee in Nashville (Dec. 6), @ Ohio State (Dec. 9)

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Earlier rating: Unranked

The Commodores could be the most important shock of the primary month of the season. They’re pummeling groups proper now, and never simply the cupcakes on their schedule. They beat a superb VCU workforce by 15 factors on Nov. 27, destroyed a beforehand unbeaten Saint Mary’s workforce by 25 on Nov. 28 after which dominated a beforehand unbeaten SMU workforce by 19 on Dec. 3. They’ve one of many elite offenses in faculty basketball and Tyler Tanner is maybe probably the most underrated level guard within the nation. He had 26 factors and 6 assists within the win over SMU.

Subsequent seven days: No video games

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Earlier rating: 19

Arkansas misplaced narrowly to Michigan State and Duke in its two earlier marquee nonconference matchups however set the tone early in Wednesday’s win over Louisville. The Razorbacks stored the Cardinals at arm’s size for many of the recreation and led by as many as 20 factors within the second half. The freshman guard duo of Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas are getting a lot of the eye, however Trevon Brazile is enjoying arguably his greatest basketball because the 2022 Maui Invitational. He had 21 factors and 5 boards towards Louisville and is now averaging practically 14 and eight over his previous 5 video games, taking pictures 40% from 3.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Fresno State in North Little Rock (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: 23

Auburn’s offense is clicking proper now. On the Gamers Period Championship in Las Vegas, star level guard Tahaad Pettiford snapped out of a hunch, averaging 22.3 factors and taking pictures 42.1% from 3. He did battle towards NC State (six factors), however the Tigers obtained big shotmaking performances from Kevin Overton (29 factors, six 3s) and Keyshawn Hall (28 factors, 5 3s). Steven Pearl’s workforce has responded effectively to the blowout loss to Michigan. Over their previous three halves — a 55-point second half towards St. John’s and Wednesday’s 83-73 win over the Wolfpack — the Tigers are taking pictures 60.8% from the sphere and 56.7% from 3.

Subsequent seven days: @ Arizona (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: Unranked

USC prevented a letdown after profitable the Maui Invitational by getting a strong highway win at Oregon regardless of the absence of Rodney Rice as a result of harm. Chad Baker-Mazara has been terrific for the Trojans, scoring at the very least 23 factors on 4 events — together with averaging 24.0 factors over his previous two video games. He got here up big late towards the Geese, getting three straight USC baskets within the last minutes whereas it was a one-possession recreation. The Trojans’ schedule the remainder of 2025 seems pretty manageable, so it would not be a shock to see them head into their Jan. 2 go to at Michigan undefeated.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Washington (Dec. 6), @ San Diego (Dec. 9)

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Earlier rating: Unranked

Kansas went 3-0 in Las Vegas on the Gamers Period Championship, getting improved play from Bryson Tiller and Jamari McDowell and looking out prefer it had the chops to outlive with out Darryn Peterson. And thru one half towards UConn on Tuesday, it was extra of the identical. However down the stretch, the Jayhawks actually struggled to seek out any constant offense. That mentioned, there ought to be extra optimism about this workforce as soon as Peterson returns. Veterans like Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White can fill roles, Flory Bidunga has actually emerged and Elmarko Jackson is enjoying higher, too.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Missouri in Kansas Metropolis (Dec. 7)

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Earlier rating: 18

After the Volunteers regarded like a possible top-10 workforce once more by beating Houston of their second Gamers Period Championship recreation, they’ve now misplaced back-to-back video games to Kansas and Syracuse. In opposition to the Jayhawks, they merely could not get stops once they wanted, but it surely was the offense that basically struggled towards Syracuse. Ja’Kobi Gillespie had 10 factors, his fewest because the season opener, whereas Nate Ament went 2-for-10 from the sphere. Tennessee does not have the firepower to outlive when its high two shotmakers aren’t scoring.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Illinois in Nashville (Dec. 6)

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Earlier rating: 9

Florida’s new-look backcourt has been a piece in progress, although one half of the switch tandem appears to be discovering his manner. Boogie Fland had 17 factors towards Windfall out in San Diego, then had 16 factors within the one-point loss to Duke — together with the go-ahead 3-pointer within the last minute. He turned it over on the ultimate possession, however his aggressiveness and confidence are again. Now, can Todd Golden coax the identical leap from Xaivian Lee? It was notable he opted to play Urban Klavzar extra within the second half towards Duke, and Klavzar responded with a pair of 3s.

Subsequent seven days: vs. UConn in New York (Dec. 9)

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Earlier rating: 15

Texas Tech has but to totally hit its stride, with considerations on each ends of the court docket. Offensively, the Pink Raiders are struggling to make photographs from the perimeter towards succesful opponents. In two losses to Illinois and Purdue, they went a mixed 14-for-56 from 3. It was solely marginally higher (16-for-52) in slim wins over Wake Forest and Wyoming. Defensively, they’ve allowed at the very least 1.06 factors per possession in 5 of their eight video games. Upcoming contests towards LSU, Arkansas and Duke will check them additional.

Subsequent seven days: vs. LSU in Forth Value (Dec. 7)

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Earlier rating: Unranked

One other new addition to the rankings, the Cornhuskers really personal the nation’s longest win streak relationship again to final season, profitable 4 video games to take the inaugural Faculty Basketball Crown after which ripping off eight straight to open this 2025-26 marketing campaign. The victory over Oklahoma seems higher, too, after the Sooners received at Wake Forest. Rienk Mast has been superior after lacking all of final season with a knee harm; he is averaging 17.9 factors, 6.3 rebounds and three.4 assists.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Creighton (Dec. 7), vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 10)

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Earlier rating: Unranked

TCU might need had probably the most highs and lows of any workforce in these rankings over the primary month of the season. The Horned Frogs opened the marketing campaign with a house loss to New Orleans — which received 4 video games final season and has received one recreation since beating TCU. They fell late to Michigan, which seems even higher looking back. They then went to San Diego and had among the best Feast Weeks within the nation, beating Florida and Wisconsin on back-to-back nights. It is an uneven résumé, however they’re exceeding expectations and Brock Harding (17.5 PPG, 8.5 APG final two video games) is a enjoyable watch.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 5), vs. North Texas in Forth Value (Dec. 7)

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Earlier rating: 14

St. John’s edged out one other workforce within the midst of a tailspin, Kentucky, for the ultimate spot on this week’s rankings. The Pink Storm didn’t have a good time in Las Vegas, dropping by one to Iowa State earlier than bouncing again to beat Baylor — after which permitting 55 factors within the second half in a loss to Auburn. They now must make the most of their remaining nonconference exams, given the way in which the Large East is shaping up. Ole Miss visits Madison Sq. Backyard this weekend, and Kentucky awaits in Atlanta on Dec. 20.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 6)

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Dropped out: UCLA Bruins (No. 20), Wisconsin Badgers (No. 21), NC State Wolfpack (No. 22), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 24), Georgetown Hoyas (No. 25)