{"id":178914,"date":"2026-02-25T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=178914"},"modified":"2026-02-25T08:00:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:00:35","slug":"college-basketball-top-25-rankings-for-2-25-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/02\/25\/college-basketball-top-25-rankings-for-2-25-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"College Basketball Top 25 Rankings for 2-25-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

After opining for weeks about the dominance of the top teams in college basketball, we FINALLY have some shake-ups this week! Well, when you have two matchups between top-5 teams on the same day, one of them has to lose. Let\u2019s see how far they fell!<\/p>\n

Top 25 College Basketball Rankings<\/h2>\n
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Photo Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Duke<\/h4>\n

It would be malpractice to have any team other than Duke as the number one team this week after their neutral-site victory over Michigan. Cameron Boozer may have locked up all of the National Player of the Year awards in the process, putting up an efficient 18, 11, and 7 against a brutally tough Michigan frontcourt.<\/p>\n

2. Michigan<\/h4>\n

Does losing to Duke make me doubt Michigan\u2019s ability to win a National Championship? No, not really. It just showed that they are a little more vulnerable than we previously thought, but they still may very well be the best team in the country. On a night where Aday Mara and Morez Johnson got in foul trouble, Elliott Cadeau was a complete non-factor, and the team shot less than 25% from 3, they still almost won. That\u2019s scary.<\/p>\n

3. Arizona<\/h4>\n

No Koa Peat, no problem this week for the Arizona Wildcats. They beat BYU and Houston in back-to-back games without their star freshman thanks to two breakout performances from Anthony Dell\u2019Orso. I do worry that the math of the 3-point shot will catch up to this inside-oriented team, but it hasn\u2019t yet.<\/p>\n

4. Florida<\/h4>\n

No team in the country is as hot as the Florida Gators, who have won 7 straight in the brutally tough SEC. They finally seem to have figured out their best lineups and have gotten more from guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. The Gators are the #1 team on Torvik from January 25th til today.<\/p>\n

5. Illinois<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s now all systems go for the Illini now that they have Kylan Boswell back. This should improve the defense that ranks 30th nationally in defensive efficiency. If not for an incredible play from Donovan Dent, Illinois would have escaped from the West Coast unharmed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Gonzaga
Photo Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Houston<\/h4>\n

The second that I start hyping Houston up, they start unraveling. The sad part is that the problems that plague Houston now are the same problems that have prevented them from winning a National Championship in the last five years. They have no way to consistently create high-quality shots offensively \u2013 you can\u2019t rely on contested mid-range jumpers, post hooks, and offensive rebounds that generate more contested mid-range jumpers and post hooks.<\/p>\n

7. Iowa State<\/h4>\n

I was all ready to have the Cyclones at fourth on this list, but then they went and lost to BYU in the late window Saturday night. We know what we\u2019re going to get from Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey, but this team\u2019s ceiling will be unlocked by getting quality offensive play and floor spacing from Nate Heise and Jamarion Batemon.<\/p>\n

8. UConn<\/h4>\n

The Huskies lost a classic \u201clook-ahead\u201d game to Creighton on Wednesday before starting their biggest two-game stretch of the season. They beat Villanova on Saturday, then have St. John’s in the biggest regular-season game in the Big East this season. They likely ended their chances of earning a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but that hasn\u2019t stopped Dan Hurley from winning a National Championship.<\/p>\n

9. Purdue<\/h4>\n

I think we\u2019re starting to figure Purdue out. In matchups where they are at least even in terms of athleticism, they look great, as they are able to generate quality shots and stay in front of their man defensively. But then, when they play a team more athletic than them, they look like they\u2019re stuck in a box offensively and have a bunch of turnstiles playing defense.<\/p>\n

10. Gonzaga<\/h4>\n

Gonzaga is so \u201cout of sight, out of mind\u201d this time of year, as the weak competition in the WCC rarely generates a matchup that will get national attention. This upcoming Saturday\u2019s game against Saint Mary’s should get that attention, and I can\u2019t wait to see Graham Ike take on the massive Saint Mary’s frontcourt.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11. Kansas<\/h4>\n

I still can\u2019t figure out this Kansas team. They lose to Cincinnati at home, then return 54 hours later and dominate Houston. They’ve got Darryn Peterson, who is among the top draft-eligible point guards<\/a> in the nation, but are we even sure he’s a point guard? I don\u2019t get it. One thing I do know \u2013 don\u2019t bet against Bill Self on Big Monday. He\u2019s now 41-0 in his career while playing Monday games on ESPN.<\/p>\n

12. Michigan State<\/h4>\n

This Spartans team can certainly cause issues for some teams in the NCAA Tournament. You simply have to have two on-ball creators to beat them, because Jeremy Fears is going to totally eliminate one (sometimes by using questionable tactics). Unfortunately, most of the teams that they will see on the second and third weekends of the NCAA Tournament do indeed have two.<\/p>\n

13. Tennessee<\/h4>\n

The Volunteers are on the rise and haven\u2019t lost to any team other than Kentucky since January 10. This is an elite rebounding team that also has two elite scorers in Ja\u2019Kobi Gillespie and ascending freshman Nate Ament. What\u2019s not to love about that profile?<\/p>\n

14. Virginia<\/h4>\n

Time just keeps going by, and Virginia just keeps on winning. They are certainly the quietest 24-3 team in the nation, and have one of the best frontcourts in the nation, led by Thijs De Ridder. This week will be a big one for the \u2018Hoos, as they take on ACC contenders NC State and Duke.<\/p>\n

15. St. John’s<\/h4>\n

The Red Storm have their biggest week of the season coming up in the next 7 days, heading to UConn on Wednesday before a home game against Villanova on Saturday. We\u2019ll find out if this team is for real, and we\u2019ll find out if Zuby Ejiofor can slam the door on the Big East POTY Award.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

16. Nebraska<\/h4>\n

We are 27 games into the season, the Cornhuskers are 23-4, and I still don\u2019t think I really have a feel for how good they are. I feel like the way Fred Hoiberg has constructed this team creates a high floor and low ceiling. To me, they feel like a team that will be a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament and lose in the Round of 32 to a 6 or 11-seed who shoots the lights out.<\/p>\n

17. Arkansas<\/h4>\n

The Razorbacks are not a team that I would want to see in my bracket if I were a top seed when March rolls around. John Calipari has an illustrious list of guards that he has coached, and Darius Acuff may just be the best of all of them when examining only their time in the collegiate ranks.<\/p>\n

18. Texas Tech<\/h4>\n

Grant McCasland must love the movie \u201cMoneyball.\u201d He\u2019s not trying to replace the production of JT Toppin with one man, and instead, he\u2019s recreating it in the aggregate. A little bit of shot blocking and interior finishing from Luke Bambgoye, a little bit of pick and roll play from LeJuan Watts, and some energy from youngster Josiah Moseley, and you\u2019ve done about as good of a job of replacing JT Toppin as you possibly can.<\/p>\n

19. Vanderbilt<\/h4>\n

On one hand, the Commodores are losers of two straight and are fading fast, going 5-6 since starting 16-0. On the other hand, every one of their recent losses feels like it was a play or two away from being a win, and they possess one of the nation\u2019s best guards in Tyler Tanner. I\u2019m not counting them out.<\/p>\n

20. Alabama<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s funny how things work out \u2013 Alabama is actually 4-0 since Charles Bediako was ruled ineligible. A big reason why is the improved play from Aiden Sherrell, who would have made the whole Bediako saga irrelevant if he were playing like this the entire season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"AJ
Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

21. Louisville<\/h4>\n

The old adage, \u201clive by the 3, die by the 3,\u201d applies to the Louisville Cardinals. A poor shooting night cost them against North Carolina on Monday, as even sharpshooter Isaac McKneely went 0-5. This style of play gives them the ceiling to beat (and blow out) anyone, but it can come back to bite them anytime.<\/p>\n

22. NC State<\/h4>\n

After completely fumbling away the Miami game, how could you not be impressed with the Wolfpack\u2019s complete evisceration of North Carolina last week? The more time goes by, the more it is clear that Will Wade was the perfect hire for THIS school at THIS point in time, and I\u2019m excited to see what he can accomplish in Raleigh.<\/p>\n

23. Wisconsin<\/h4>\n

Talk about a team that no one will want to see in their bracket in March. This team is a true giant killer and has beaten Michigan, Illinois, and Michigan State, and the season isn\u2019t even over yet. The backcourt tandem of Boyd and Blackwell is as dangerous as ever, and look for this team to make noise in March.<\/p>\n

24. North Carolina<\/h4>\n

I have been impressed with this team\u2019s response to playing without Caleb Wilson \u2013 it\u2019s why they\u2019re back on the list this week after falling out last week. Sophomore Zayden High is not Caleb Wilson, but he\u2019s playing quite well in his stead, and Seth Trimble is turning into the emotional leader this team needs.<\/p>\n

25. BYU<\/h4>\n

I thought we would be saying goodbye to this team after the injury to Richie Saunders, and then they go and beat Iowa State Saturday night. Turns out, with no Richie Saunders, BYU is just giving more minutes to defensive menaces and giving more shots to AJ Dybantsa. Seems like a smart game plan to me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After opining for weeks about the dominance of the top teams in college basketball, we FINALLY have some shake-ups this week! Well, when you have two matchups between top-5 teams on the same day, one of them has to lose. Let\u2019s see how far they fell! Top 25 College Basketball Rankings 1. Duke It would […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5637,"featured_media":178925,"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":[31322,861,826,1442],"class_list":["post-178914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","tag-college-basketball-rankings","tag-duke-blue-devils","tag-march-madness","tag-selection-sunday"],"modified_by":"Doug Henderson","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178914","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=178914"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":178928,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178914\/revisions\/178928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/178925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=178914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=178914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=178914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}