The 2025-26 college basketball season continues to deliver surprises in mid-January, with conference play in full swing. The latest Associated Press (AP) Top 25 men’s basketball poll, released Monday, January 12, 2026, sees Arizona solidify its hold on No. 1 (with 60 first-place votes) following Michigan’s first loss of the season (a 91-88 defeat to Wisconsin on Jan. 10). Iowa State jumps to No. 2 (with 1 first-place vote), while Vanderbilt’s unbeaten run lands them in the top 10 for the first time in over a decade.
College Basketball Rankings – January 12th, 2026 AP Poll
Here’s the college basketball rankings (AP Poll) as of January 12th, 2026 for you.
Latest AP Top 25 (January 12, 2026)
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Previous Rank | Notes |
| 1 | Arizona | 16-0 | 1524 | 1 | 60 first-place votes; tightened grip on top spot |
| 2 | Iowa State | 16-0 | 1448 | 3 | 1 first-place vote; highest ranking in program history |
| 3 | UConn | 16-1 | 1358 | 4 | Defending champs stay strong |
| 4 | Michigan | 14-1 | 1300 | 2 | Dropped after first loss to Wisconsin |
| 5 | Purdue | 15-1 | 1253 | 5 | Steady in Big Ten |
| 6 | Duke | 15-1 | 1237 | 6 | Strong ACC start (see our updated printable Duke schedule: https://sportsbrackets.net/2025/10/09/printable-2025-26-duke-basketball-schedule-pdf-format-tv-broadcasts/) |
| 7 | Houston | 15-1 | 1130 | 7 | Consistent Big 12 contender |
| 8 | Nebraska | 16-0 | 1056 | 10 | Unbeaten; big rise |
| 9 | Gonzaga | 17-1 | 1050 | 8 | Slight dip |
| 10 | Vanderbilt | 16-0 | 1035 | 11 | Unbeaten; cracks top 10 (first since 2011-12 preseason) |
| 11 | BYU | 15-1 | 1013 | 9 | Down one spot |
| 12 | Michigan State | 14-2 | 865 | 12 | Steady |
| 13 | Illinois | 13-3 | 778 | 16 | Rise after strong play |
| 14 | North Carolina | 14-2 | 659 | 17 | Up three |
| 15 | Texas Tech | 12-4 | 609 | 14 | Slight drop |
| 16 | Virginia | 14-2 | 515 | 23 | Big jump (up 7) |
| 17 | Arkansas | 12-4 | 492 | 15 | Down two |
| 18 | Alabama | 11-5 | 470 | 13 | Drop after results |
| 19 | Florida | 11-5 | 349 | NR | New entry; reigning champ returns |
| 20 | Louisville | 12-4 | 336 | 20 | Steady |
| 21 | Georgia | 14-2 | 227 | 18 | Slight drop |
| 22 | Clemson | 14-3 | 218 | NR | New entry; first time this season |
| 23 | Utah State | 14-1 | 161 | NR | New entry |
| 24 | Tennessee | 11-5 | 140 | 21 | Drop |
| 25 | Seton Hall | 14-2 | 136 | NR | New entry; first since Jan 2022 |
Others receiving votes: Saint Louis 92, Kansas 60, Iowa 58, Miami (Ohio) 49, Villanova 40, Wisconsin 37, Miami (FL) 30, Texas A&M 23, UCF 18, Saint Mary’s 17, SMU 15, Auburn 14, George Mason 8, NC State 3, Southern California 1, St. John’s 1.
Key Highlights & Movements:
- Arizona (16-0) holds No. 1 comfortably after Michigan’s slip.
- Unbeaten teams still prominent: Arizona (16-0), Iowa State (16-0), Nebraska (16-0), Vanderbilt (16-0).
- Major risers: Virginia (up from 23 to 16), Illinois (up from 16 to 13), Nebraska (up to 8).
- New entries: Florida (No. 19), Clemson (No. 22), Utah State (No. 23), Seton Hall (No. 25).
- Drops/out: Teams like Iowa, Kansas, SMU, and UCF fell out of the poll.
- Vanderbilt’s top-10 entry is a big story—they haven’t been this high since the 2011-12 preseason.
As conference battles intensify, bracket fever is building toward March Madness. For planning ahead:
- Download our free Printable 2026 March Madness Bracket template (PDF): https://sportsbrackets.net/2025/09/22/printable-2026-march-madness-bracket-download-your-free-ncaa-tournament-template/
- Full 2026 March Madness Schedule details: https://sportsbrackets.net/2024/03/19/2026-march-madness-schedule/ (Selection Sunday: March 15, 2026)
