{"id":171739,"date":"2026-01-08T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=171739"},"modified":"2026-01-07T20:18:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T01:18:41","slug":"college-basketball-ranking-the-top-25-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/01\/08\/college-basketball-ranking-the-top-25-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"College Basketball: Ranking the Top 25 Teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a two-week period where schools were on winter break and games were few and far between, college basketball is back in the national spotlight! While the off-the-court headlines rule the day, thanks to teams adding midseason additions, including Baylor adding a player who was drafted by the NBA, the on-court product has been outstanding this season, and it\u2019s about time that a national audience gets to view it! Here is our up-to-the-minute top-25!<\/p>\n

Top 25 College Basketball Rankings<\/h2>\n

1. Michigan<\/h3>\n
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Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Wolverines are a complete buzzsaw right now, having won their last 3 games by an average margin of 41 points. The 3-big lineup with Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara all on the floor, which I had concerns about in the preseason, has been a thing of beauty and produced an elite unit on both sides of the floor. You need to watch this team if you have not already.<\/p>\n

2. Arizona<\/h3>\n

The Wildcats are currently undefeated and ranked #1 in the AP poll, but I have a genuine concern about their ability to win 6 single-elimination games in the NCAA Tournament. The old school offensive philosophy that relies on inside scoring from Koa Peat and Motiejus Krivas is going to be vulnerable to a team that shoots more efficiently and with more volume from behind the 3-point line.<\/p>\n

3. Iowa State<\/h3>\n

I did not foresee Joshua Jefferson taking the big leap forward that he has this season. He has gone from a good player to a legitimate National Player of the Year contender. With Jefferson and a now healthy Tamin Lipsey, the Cyclones have two of the best players on the court almost every time they play.<\/p>\n

4. Purdue<\/h3>\n

Per KenPom, Purdue still boasts the most efficient offense in the country, thanks in large part to the nation\u2019s best floor general in Braden Smith and the nation\u2019s leader in offensive rating in Oscar Cluff. If not for a home loss to Iowa State, this team would likely have been #1 in the AP poll and #1 on these rankings.<\/p>\n

5. Gonzaga<\/h3>\n

If not for a 40-point loss to Michigan in the Championship of the Players Era Festival, the Zags would be on track for an undefeated regular season \u2013 they will likely be favored in every game the rest of the way. This should give Mark Few enough time to figure out his guard rotation, as the lineup is constantly being changed and re-worked, and you never know which guard will play well or poorly.<\/p>\n

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6. Duke<\/h3>\n

The Blue Devils have looked a little vulnerable lately, losing to Texas Tech and being taken to the wire by Georgia Tech and Florida State. But they still boast one of the nation\u2019s hardest matchups in Cameron Boozer. They\u2019ve been playing more two-point-guard lineups with both Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer on the floor at the same time, and I for one will be curious to see how this plays out. For more on the Blue Devils, check out their top moments from 2025<\/a>!<\/p>\n

7. UConn<\/h3>\n

This UConn team might not have one superstar, but they have a lot of \u201cdudes.\u201d They\u2019re a very balanced roster that has a multitude of players who can take over a game at a moment\u2019s notice. And Braylon Mullins is turning into one right in front of our eyes.<\/p>\n

8. BYU<\/h3>\n

AJ Dybantsa has finally started playing like the potential number one overall pick that he is. Over the month of December, he averaged over 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. That\u2019s absurd. With him playing at that high of a level, this team can beat anyone.<\/p>\n

9. Vanderbilt<\/h3>\n

I still want to see more from Vanderbilt. Yes, Duke Miles has been great, and Tyler Tanner looks like a legitimate first-round pick, but I need to see them beat quality competition before I become a believer. Wednesday\u2019s game against Alabama will provide an opportunity to do just that.<\/p>\n

10. Houston<\/h3>\n

This Houston team confuses me. On paper, with Kingston Flemings running the show, they should be better than they were last season. Yet, it just feels like something is missing. Did J\u2019Wan Roberts make that much of a difference for Houston last season?<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11. Alabama<\/h3>\n

The Crimson Tide have played the toughest schedule in the nation to this point, and dealt with injuries to four of their five starters. And yet the Tide are 11-3 with no bad losses and well-positioned to contend in the SEC. Nate Oats is inevitable.<\/p>\n

12. Illinois<\/h3>\n

Sure, the influx of European talent got all of the national headlines, but incoming Keaton Wagler has been the most important addition for Illinois this season. He\u2019s been the successor to the Marcus Domask and Kasparas Jakucionus type of player that Illinois has deployed the last 3 seasons.<\/p>\n

13. Nebraska<\/h3>\n

Thanks to their victory in the College Basketball Crown last season, Nebraska actually owns the nation\u2019s longest winning streak. Which seems like it can\u2019t possibly be a true statement, but it is. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts with this team that just may be Fred Hoiberg\u2019s best coaching job.<\/p>\n

14. Michigan State<\/h3>\n

The Spartans are in an interesting spot. They\u2019ve got some good players who are known quantities, such as Jaxon Kohler and Jeremy Fears, but I don\u2019t know if that core on its own is good enough to carry a team to a national championship. They have to get more out of their young talent if they want to go far in March.<\/p>\n

15. Louisville<\/h3>\n

I don\u2019t think it would be dramatic to describe Tuesday\u2019s tilt vs Duke as the biggest Louisville home game of this decade. Pat Kelsey has brought Louisville back to its former level of national prominence, and beating Duke on Tuesday would be a wake-up call to the rest of the ACC that it runs through Louisville.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

16. Arkansas<\/h3>\n

Stop me if you\u2019ve heard this one before \u2013 John Calipari has a group of talented freshman that are improving as the season progresses. The Razorbacks kicked off SEC play with a huge win over Tennessee, and appear to be a true contender in the conference.<\/p>\n

17. Texas Tech<\/h3>\n

The consensus thought was that Texas Tech should have gone after a true point guard in the transfer portal this offseason. Well, they chose not to, simply because they knew that Christian Anderson could run the show and be more of a true floor general. He\u2019s proving them right, averaging 7.5 assists per game to this point.<\/p>\n

18. Georgia<\/h3>\n

Mike White\u2019s Bulldogs pulled off a nearly impossible comeback to force OT against Auburn over the weekend, a game which they would eventually win. Blue Cain has gone from \u201cjust a shooter\u201d to a do-it-all glue-guy who is instrumental to their success.<\/p>\n

19. Iowa<\/h3>\n

Ben McCollum is a winner. And he\u2019s taking his same style from Drake and utilizing it at Iowa, with his same point guard, Bennett Stirtz. The slow-tempo and tough defense are going to make them a tough out every time they take the court.<\/p>\n

20. Kansas<\/h3>\n

This Kansas team is still one of the most talented rosters in the country, but there is cause for concern after a loss at UCF. Darryn Peterson has been in and out of the lineup with a hamstring injury, and it appears the team is not used to playing with him. They have to figure it out fast with Iowa State coming to Lawrence in a week.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

21. North Carolina<\/h3>\n

The Tar Heels may have lost to SMU over the weekend, but that doesn\u2019t change my opinion of them a whole lot. Henri Veesaar is playing the best ball of his career, and Caleb Wilson is as good as advertised. Getting Seth Trimble back has been a huge help. I look for them to be near the top of ACC.<\/p>\n

22. Virginia<\/h3>\n

This team has already far exceeded my preseason expectations, and losing in the game of the year to Virginia Tech does not dampen my tone. Malik Thomas and Dallin Hall have proven solid adds from the portal.<\/p>\n

23. Florida<\/h3>\n

The Florida Gators have a guard problem. It is all that separates them from last season\u2019s National Championship winning squad, because the frontcourt all stuck around. But we know that Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland have talent, and Todd Golden can flat-out coach. Can they get it solved?<\/p>\n

24. SMU<\/h3>\n

The Mustangs notched what may be the biggest win for SMU basketball in the last decade by beating UNC at home over the weekend. The two-point-guard system with Boopie Miller and BJ Edwards has worked well so far, and this offensive explosion has the Mustangs on track to make it back to the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n

25. Villanova<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a down year for the Big East, but right now, Villanova looks like the second-best team in it. Duke Brennan is rebounding everything, and Tyler Perkins has taken a leap in his development. I would be surprised if they don\u2019t win their next three and start Big East play 6-0.<\/p>\n

For more great college basketball analysis, check out DrRoto.com<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After a two-week period where schools were on winter break and games were few and far between, college basketball is back in the national spotlight! While the off-the-court headlines rule the day, thanks to teams adding midseason additions, including Baylor adding a player who was drafted by the NBA, the on-court product has been outstanding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5637,"featured_media":171765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773],"tags":[846,31322,866],"class_list":["post-171739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","tag-arizona-wildcats","tag-college-basketball-rankings","tag-michigan-wolverines"],"modified_by":"Doug Henderson","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5637"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171739"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":171767,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171739\/revisions\/171767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}