AP College Basketball Poll 2026 Week 15 Rankings Released with Top Risers and Fallers
Arizona's run as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll is over after nine weeks.
The Wildcats slipped to fourth in the rankings after an 82-78 defeat to Kansas last Monday and then a 78-75 overtime loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. The Red Raiders went from 16th to 13th on the strength of the upset.
Purdue enjoyed the biggest climb, gaining six spots into No. 7. Michigan State (No. 15) and North Carolina (No. 16) had the steepest falls and lost five places.
Week 15 AP Top 25
1. Michigan (24-1)
2. Houston (23-2)
3. Duke (23-2)
4. Arizona (23-2)
5. UConn (24-2)
6. Iowa State (22-3)
7. Purdue (21-4)
8. Kansas (19-6)
9. Nebraska (22-3)
10. Illinois (21-5)
11. Gonzaga (25-2)
12. Florida (19-6)
13. Texas Tech (19-6)
14. Virginia (22-3)
15. Michigan State (20-5)
16. North Carolina (20-5)
17. St. John's (20-5)
18. Saint Louis (24-1)
19. Vanderbilt (21-4)
20. Arkansas (19-6)
21. Louisville (19-6)
22. Miami Ohio (25-0)
23. BYU (19-6)
24. Wisconsin (18-7)
25. Alabama (18-7)
Last week provided quite a roller-coaster ride in the Big 12.
Kansas didn't have the services of standout freshman Darryn Peterson, who was battling an illness, for the win over Arizona. Flory Bidunga and Melvin Council Jr. each had 23 points on the night.
The Jayhawks, with Peterson back in the lineup, turned around and got blown out by Iowa State. The Cyclones led by as many as 24 before securing a 74-56 win.
Of course, Iowa State had come out on the losing end only days earlier. In a result that could have NCAA tournament implications, TCU took the Cyclones down 62-55 in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs aren't a lock for the Big Dance but will have a compelling resume given who they've beaten.
Houston now sits alone in first place in the Big 12. The Cougars just have to navigate matchups against Iowa State, Arizona and Kansas in their next three games before they're pretty much free and clear.
Sounds pretty easy, right?
Michigan likewise got some breathing room in the race for the Big Ten regular-season title. The Wolverines are two games ahead of Illinois, which suffered a second straight overtime defeat before blowing out Indiana. Nebraska is now 2.5 games back after dropping a nail-biter in OT to Purdue.
Michigan still has to play the Boilermakers and Fighting Illini before closing with Michigan State. Dusty May's squad has plenty of tough tests between it and a conference crown.
Remaining atop the AP poll will require some effort as well. The Wolverines hit the road to play Purdue on Tuesday and then face off with Duke in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
The Blue Devils responded to their last-second loss to North Carolina by beating Pittsburgh and Clemson by double digits. They'd probably be No. 2 right now if they had held on against the Tar Heels.
Should it prevail in the nation's capital, Duke could leapfrog Houston and claim the No. 1 spot for the first time this year.
