AP College Basketball Poll 2026 Week 16 Rankings Released with Top Risers and Fallers

Duke is No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since last March.

The Blue Devils vaulted into the first spot after beating Michigan, 68-63, in Washington, D.C., last Saturday. The Wolverines dropped to No. 3 after suffering their second defeat of the 2025-26 season.

That was just one big result that helped to almost totally reshape the Top 10. Illinois was the only school that stood pat.

In terms of the rankings as a whole, Alabama was the biggest riser (eight spots, No. 17), while Kansas (No. 14) and Vanderbilt (No. 25) had the steepest falls by losing six places.

Week 16 AP Top 25

1. Duke (25-2)

2. Arizona (25-2)

3. Michigan (25-2)

4. Iowa State (23-4)

5. Houston (23-4)

6. UConn (25-3)

7. Florida (21-6)

8. Purdue (22-5)

9. Gonzaga (27-2)

10. Illinois (22-6)

11. Virginia (24-3)

12. Nebraska (23-4)

13. Michigan State (22-5)

14. Kansas (20-7)

15. St. John's (22-5)

16. Texas Tech (20-7)

17. Alabama (20-7)

18. North Carolina (21-6)

19. BYU (20-7)

20. Arkansas (20-7)

21. Miami Ohio (27-0)

22. Tennessee (20-7)

23. Saint Louis (25-2)

24. Louisville (20-7)

25. Vanderbilt (21-6)

Cameron Boozer had 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists against Michigan, reinforcing why he's widely considered one of the three best players in the 2026 NBA draft class.

A balanced performance also helped to propel Duke to its biggest win of the year. Four Blue Devils players scored in double figures, and they held the Wolverines to 6-of-25 on three-pointers as a team.

Duke Beats Michigan

01:00

"That felt like a March or April game," coach Jon Scheyer said after the victory. "... Really proud of this win. We're going to enjoy this tonight. I know there's a lot more we can do and have to do and keep learning and keep growing."

Duke probably would've moved up to No. 1 regardless of results elsewhere. Arizona nonetheless provided a helping hand by beating No. 2 Houston 73-66.

The Wildcats had a great week as they also defeated BYU last Wednesday. The pair of wins were a reminder of why they sat atop the AP poll for nine straight weeks.

With a 12-2 mark, Arizona is in first place in the Big 12 and holds a one-game lead on Houston. Iowa State and Kansas both suffered costly upsets that leave them two games back with four to play. They each have the Wildcats left on the schedule, so their hopes of a regular-season title aren't gone completely.

Michigan may not be No. 1 anymore, but it at least consolidated its position in the Big Ten.

In a consequential head-to-head battle, the Wolverines handed Purdue a double-digit defeat last Tuesday. They also watched Nebraska and Illinois lose to unranked conference foes.

The Fighting Illini were only 4.9 seconds away from holding on after Keaton Wagler's put-back gave them the lead. Donovan Dent needed every bit of that time to run nearly the length of the floor and lay it in before the buzzer.

UCLA Game Winner on Illinois

00:49

Illinois hosts Michigan on Friday. Should the Wolverines win, that might be the night they clinch their first regular-season Big Ten crown since 2021.