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Mike's college basketball rankings for Week 9 of the 2025-26 season. Where are Duke, Houston, Arizona, and Gonzaga ranked?
College Basketball Top 25 Power Rankings Week 9, 2025-26
All teams are now in the midst of conference play. If the first week of conference play is any indication, we are in for a fun two months! We had a few upsets this week and several overtime games. Some even went to multiple overtimes. We’re going to see more movement in this week’s rankings. It makes for a fun article and should reflect what will be a fun season.
25. Miami (OH) (15-0)
Last week: NR
Results: W 93-83 at Bowling Green, W 76-73 vs. Akron
The Redhawks didn’t have any big non-conference games, but they are one of six undefeated Division I teams at the halfway point of the season. That should count for something. All five starters average double figures, and the bench is deep. The MAC almost got two teams into the NCAA Tournament a couple of years ago. They have become one of the better mid-major conferences in the last five years.
24. Villanova (12-2)
Last week: NR
Results: W 71-66 vs. DePaul, W 85-67 at Butler
The two losses are to top-10 teams in Michigan and BYU. Wins over Pitt, Wisconsin, Seton Hall, and Butler are solid. This is just another one of those well put-together Villanova teams. They don’t have a flashy star, but they play tough defense and win close games. This is a more guard-oriented unit, but it’s working so far.
23. Kansas (10-4)
Last week: 18 (⇓5)
Results: L 75-81 at Central Florida
I have Kansas still ranked, just in case UCF is actually a good team. This is not your typical Kansas team. This is a lot like the Kansas team from two years ago, where they had almost nothing around lottery pick Gradey Dick. Darryn Peterson is better than Dick, but the supporting cast has been underwhelming, especially with Peterson out. Peterson has scored 103 points in 128 minutes over five games. The only players with more points in their first five Big 12 games are Michael Beasley, Kevin Durant, and Trae Young. That’s pretty good company.
22. Clemson (12-3)
Last week: 23 (⇑1)
Results: W 64-61 at Syracuse, W 73-68 at Pittsburgh
Those are two solid conference road wins for the Tigers. Most of the national media is still sleeping on Clemson. Losses to Alabama and BYU are not bad losses. The marquee win is Georgia, but they have a few solid ones as well. A lot has changed since that loss in Washington, D.C., to Georgetown in mid-November.
21. Iowa (12-2)
Last week: NR
Results: W 74-61 vs. UCLA
Iowa has two really good losses (Iowa State and Michigan State), but lacks a marquee win. Still, good wins over UCLA, Mississippi, Xavier, and Grand Canyon will get the Hawkeyes in the rankings. They’ll get a chance to prove they belong. Two of the next three games are against ranked teams. This is Iowa’s best start since the 2020-21 season.
20. Central Florida (12-1)
Last week: NR
Results: W 81-75 vs. (18) Kansas
The 12-1 start is the best for Central Florida since the 2010-11 campaign. This is their second win over a ranked Kansas team in Orlando over the last three seasons. The only loss for the Knights this season is to an undefeated Vanderbilt team. Wins over Pitt and Texas A&M are solid, but a win over Kansas gets you noticed.
19. Louisville (11-3)
Last week: 14 (⇓5)
Results: W 90-70 at (25) California, L 76-80 at Stanford
How much do we punish Louisville for losing these games with star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. out? Brown has missed the last four games. The Cardinals have lost two of them. Brown will also miss the tilt against Duke this week, so the chances of the Cardinals hanging around in the rankings are relatively slim. Louisville has already lost more road games than they did all of last season.
18. Georgia (13-1)
Last week: 21 (⇑3)
Results: W 104-100 vs. (22) Auburn (OT)
The 100 points are nothing new for this Georgia team. The Bulldogs are averaging 99.4 points per game this season. That’s the most in Division I. Xavier is the only team to hold the Bulldogs under 80 points. They have scored in triple digits seven times already in 14 games.
17. Vanderbilt (14-0)
Last week: 19 (⇑2)
Results: W 83-71 at South Carolina
The win over Central Florida in early November is by far the best win Vanderbilt has had. Compare that with Nebraska’s undefeated start, and it pales in comparison. Vanderbilt will get chances to catch up with a big matchup against Alabama this week. Vanderbilt’s 14-0 start is its best start since 2007-08. That team won 16 straight to start the season. Those are the best starts in school history.
16. Illinois (11-3)
Last week: 16 ⇔
Results: W 73-65 at Penn State
That Nebraska loss isn’t a bad one, and wins over Texas Tech and Tennessee still look impressive. Illinois being ranked this low is a testament to how impressive the other three-loss teams have been.
15. North Carolina (13-2)
Last week: 11 (⇓4)
Results: W 79-66 vs. Florida State, L 83-97 at SMU
On one hand, the Tar Heels handily beat the Florida State team that almost beat Duke. On the other hand, the Tar Heels lost by double digits to SMU. I know that it’s a road game, but if you’re a top 12 team, that shouldn’t happen. Want proof? This is the most points Carolina has allowed as a ranked team to an unranked team since Wake hung 98 on them in 2022. It was Carolina’s largest loss as a ranked team to an unranked team since Louisville beat them by 21 in 2019.
14. Texas Tech (11-3)
Last week: 17 (⇑3)
Results: W 102-80 vs. Oklahoma State
Everyone talks about JT Toppin, but what Christian Anderson is doing for the Red Raiders is equally, if not more, impressive. Texas Tech has had a player score or assist on at least 50 points in a game four times in the last 15 years. All four instances are by Anderson this season. The season isn’t even half over!
13. Arkansas (11-3)
Last week: 15 (⇑2)
Results: W 86-75 vs. (20) Tennessee
I’m not going to do something dumb like the AP did and rank Texas Tech above the Arkansas team that beat them three weeks ago. Not when both teams have the same record. Arkansas also claims wins over Louisville and Tennessee. All three of Arkansas’ losses are to teams currently in the top 12. Only Alabama’s losses are better (but just barely) amongst three-loss teams.
12. Alabama (11-3)
Last week: 12 ⇔
Results: W 89-74 vs. Kentucky
Kentucky is just the third team this season to hold Alabama under 90 points. Gonzaga and Purdue were the others. The Tide lost both of those games. Alabama does have wins over Illinois and St. John’s, helping to keep them afloat. Not having a bad loss will go a long way this time of year.
11. Michigan State (12-2)
Last week: 8 (⇓3)
Results: L 56-58 at (13) Nebraska
A road loss to Nebraska isn’t a bad loss. The Cornhuskers didn’t lose a conference game at The Vault last year, and they played top-ranked Purdue there. We need to start treating Nebraska like a top team. They have been this year, and for much of last year. Michigan State’s losses are both to top 10 teams, and they have wins over Iowa and Arkansas.
10. BYU (13-1)
Last week: 10 ⇔
Results: W 83-73 at Kansas State
BYU went into the Octagon of Doom and won by double digits. While it is true that Kansas State has fallen off a little, this team is not devoid of talent. The home-court advantage is real, and it barely affected the Cougars. BYU has won 10 straight games for the first time since 2010-11. Their 13-1 start also ties that 2010-11 squad for the best start to a season in program history. That was Jimmer Fredette’s senior year.
9. Houston (13-1)
Last week: 9 ⇔
Results: W 67-60 vs. Cincinnati
BYU has the better loss, but Houston has beaten two ranked teams. We’re splitting hairs here. The Big 12 has four of the top 10 teams in college basketball right now. That speaks to how good the top of the conference is. The depth is very good as well with UCF, Kansas, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, and Oklahoma State all eyeing NCAA Tournament bids. Kansas State and Arizona State aren’t far off.
8. Gonzaga (16-1)
Last week: 7 (⇓1)
Results: W 99-93 at San Diego, W 80-72 vs. Seattle, W 82-47 vs. Loyola Marymount
The Bulldogs have been busy since the Christmas break, but they have started slowly in all three games. That’s not going to bite them in WCC play. Gonzaga has dominated this conference in an unprecedented manner. Since Mark Few took over as the head coach in 1999-2000, Gonzaga has won 79 conference games by 30 or more points. The next closest team in that span is Belmont with 38.
7. Nebraska (14-0)
Last week: 13 (⇑6)
Results: W 58-56 vs. (8) Michigan State
We need to quit looking at the name on the uniform and start looking at the body of work. The Cornhuskers deserve to be ahead of Gonzaga, Houston, and BYU. Their win over a top-10 Michigan State team and a still top-20 Illinois team is better than wins over Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, and Wisconsin.
This was Nebraska’s first win in a ranked matchup at home since 1991. Before this season, Nebraska only had three ranked wins in program history. They already have two this year with ranked matchups against Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, and Iowa twice looming to try and break the record.
6. Duke (13-1)
Last week: 6 ⇔
Results: W 85-79 vs. Georgia Tech, W 91-87 at Florida State
Should we be worried? Duke trailed for much of the game against Georgia Tech at home and nearly lost to Florida State. Both are near the bottom of the ACC in the early going. The win over Florida doesn’t carry a lot of weight. Neither does the win over Kansas without Darryn Peterson. Wins over Arkansas and Michigan State are legit, but Duke hasn’t looked dominant in a game since the Howard game about a month ago.
5. Purdue (13-1)
Last week: 5 ⇔
Results: W 89-73 at Wisconsin
Braden Smith dished out another 12 assists in this one. He now owns the Big Ten career assists record with 893. He has a way to go to top Bobby Hurley’s career D1 assists record. Hurley dished out 1,076 assists in his four years at Duke from 1990-93. Smith needs 183 more assists to catch Hurley.
Purdue has 17 games remaining this season, but they’ll have at least two more during the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Smith is averaging 9.6 assists per game this year. If he just performs at that average and Purdue doesn’t win a postseason game, he’ll get the record.
4. Connecticut (14-1)
Last week: 4 ⇔
Results: W 90-67 at Xavier, W 73-57 vs. Marquette
The last time that UConn started a season this well, they cut down the nets at the Final Four. There isn’t a team in the Big East that can touch them this year. Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Villanova are solid, but they’ll need a nearly flawless game to beat UConn this year. That wasn’t the case in 2024-25.
3. Iowa State (14-0)
Last week: 3 ⇔
Results: W 80-59 vs. West Virginia
Joshua Jefferson messed around and got a triple-double against the Mountaineers, but Milan Momcilovic almost stole his thunder by hitting eight three-pointers. That’s a good problem to have. Iowa State has been coming close to dominance for at least the last five years. They may finally be there. Only the 2013-14 Iowa State team started the season at 14-0. This iteration of the Cyclones will get their chance at the best start in program history against Baylor in Waco this week.
2. Michigan (13-0)
Last week: 2 ⇔
Results: W 96-66 vs. USC
It was another blowout win for Michigan. Michigan has played three AP-ranked teams this season and beaten all of them by 30 points or more. No team in history has ever beaten three consecutive AP-ranked opponents by 30 or more. Only two other teams (1993-94 Minnesota and 1996-97 Kentucky) have beaten three ranked teams by 30 or more in the same season.
1. Arizona (14-0)
Last week: 1 ⇔
Results: W 97-78 at Utah
Arizona opened conference play the same way that they closed out non-conference play. With a blowout win. Arizona’s 14-0 start is tied for the third-best start in program history. The Wildcats also started 14-0 in 2012-13. Only the 16-0 start in 1931-32 and the 21-0 start in 2013-14 top this year’s start.
