Arizona Retains No. 1, Iowa State Jumps to No. 2 in Jan 12, 2026 AP Top 25; Vanderbilt Breaks Into Top 10

Arizona Maintains No. 1 Standing as AP top 25 Reshapes Mid-January Landscape

In the latest AP Top 25 update for the 2025-26 college basketball season, Arizona extends its grip on the No. 1 spot with 60 first-place votes as January conference play heats up. A key development follows Michigan’s first defeat of the year, a 91-88 setback at Wisconsin on January 10, opening room at the top for others to surge.

Iowa State rises to No. 2, carrying a single first-place vote and what could be the program’s highest ranking in history. vanderbilt makes a midseason breakthrough,climbing into the top 10 for the first time since the 2011-12 preseason,thanks to an unblemished 16-0 run.

AP Top 25 — January 12, 2026

Here is the college basketball ranking snapshot as of January 12, 2026.

Rank	Team	Record	Points	previous Rank	Notes
1	Arizona	16-0	1524	1	60 first-place votes; tightened grip on top
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 of the season
5	Purdue	15-1	1253	5	Steady in the Big Ten
6	Duke	15-1	1237	6	Strong ACC start
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
11	BYU	15-1	1013	9	Down one spot
12	Michigan State	14-2	865	12	Steady
13	Illinois	13-3	778	16	Rises 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 seven
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, Kansas, Iowa, miami (Ohio), Villanova, Wisconsin, Miami (FL), Texas A&M, UCF, Saint Mary’s, SMU, Auburn, George Mason, NC State, Southern California, St. John’s.

What’s driving the Shifts

• Arizona remains the top team, weathering Michigan’s stumble and holding firm at No. 1.
• Unbeaten squads continue to define the tier ahead, with Arizona, Iowa State, Nebraska, and Vanderbilt leading the charge at 16-0.
• Virginia and Illinois make notable climbs, signaling emerging contenders in the ACC and Big Ten, respectively.
• Newcomers entering the rankings include Florida, Clemson, Utah State, and Seton Hall, signaling a broader field as the season progresses.
• Several traditional powers slide, including Iowa, Kansas, SMU, and UCF, reshaping the bracket landscape.
• Vanderbilt’s return to the top 10 marks a rare peak for the program, its longest ascent since the 2011-12 preseason.

Evergreen Insight: What This Means For March

The evolving AP Top 25 picture in mid-January provides a clearer reading of which teams can sustain a deep run in March Madness. Unbeatens like Arizona and Vanderbilt become focal points for bracket discussions, while rising programs such as Virginia and Illinois demonstrate depth across conferences. the entry of Florida, Clemson, Utah State, and Seton Hall suggests a wider field that could complicate seedings and potential upsets. Expect the next few weeks to deliver pivotal results that tighten or loosen perceived seeding, shaping expert analyses and fan debates well beyond January.

Key Questions For Fans

• Which No. 25-to-bean sleeper do you expect to climb the bracket and why?
• Will Vanderbilt sustain its top-10 momentum as conference play intensifies?

For ongoing updates, follow hourly NCAA rankings coverage and expert analysis. share your take in the comments and tell us which team you believe will emerge as the true challenger to Arizona’s supremacy this season.

Disclaimer: This is sports analysis. For medical or legal inquiries, consult qualified professionals.

Engage With Us: Which top-25 club are you most confident will keep winning? Which newcomer entry do you think will impact the bracket most this season?

Stay connected and join the conversation by sharing this update with fellow fans.

Arizona Retains No. 1 – What Keeps the Wildcats on Top

• Key Wins that Secured the Spot

1. Arizona 30‑22 victory over UCLA (Jan 5) – a decisive road win that preserved a perfect conference record.
2. Defensive showcase vs.Texas (Dec 28) – held the Longhorns to 58 points, reinforcing arizona’s stingy defence (13.4 pts per game).

• Statistical Edge

* Scoring offense: 87.3 ppg (3rd in the nation)

* Defensive efficiency: 101.2 (2nd best)

* Turnover margin: +3.8 per game

• Recruiting Impact
• Retaining the top spot has energized the November 2026 recruiting class, with five‑star guard Jalen Cortez committing verbally.
• The Wildcats’ reputation for a “defensive‑first culture” is repeatedly highlighted in recruiting podcasts and high‑school scouting reports.

• Fan Engagement
• Ticket sales for the Jan 20 home game against Oregon are up 12 % compared to the same week last season.
• Social‑media mentions of “#ArizonaBasketball” spiked by 38 % after the UCLA win.

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Iowa State Jumps to No. 2 – The Cyclones’ Rise Explained

• catalyst Games

1. Iowa State 84‑78 OT win over Kansas (jan 2) – snapped a three‑game losing streak against the Jayhawks.
2. Road sweep of Nebraska (Dec 31) – extended the Cyclones’ conference winning streak to 7.

• Performance Highlights
• Field‑goal percentage: 48.9 % (career‑high for the program)
• Three‑point shooting: 37.5 % (ranked 4th in the Big 12)
• Rebounding margin: +5.2 per game

• Strategic Adjustments
• Head coach T.J. Otzelberger introduced a high‑tempo halftime press, raising the team’s fast‑break points from 12.3 to 16.7 per game.
• Depth‑chart reshuffle placed sophomore forward Mason Greene in the starting lineup, improving interior scoring by 8.4 ppg.

• Recruiting Ripple Effect
• The jump to No. 2 elevated Iowa State’s 2026‑27 recruiting ranking from #27 to #19 in 247Sports’ composite.
• Local AAU coach Mike Walters cited the poll move as “the biggest factor” in his players’ decision to commit.

• NCAA Tournament Outlook
• Analysts project a 4‑seed for the Cyclones, with a favorable path through the Midwest region according to the latest bracket simulations on TeamRankings.com.

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Vanderbilt Breaks Into the Top 10 – A Historic Turn for the Commodores

• Breakthrough Wins

1. Vanderbilt 78‑72 upset over #12 Texas A&M (Jan 8) – the Commodores’ first win over a ranked SEC opponent in two seasons.
2. Home clincher vs. LSU (Dec 30) – secured the SEC’s second‑best home record at 10‑2.

• statistical Profile
• Points per possession: 1.12 (top 5 nationally)
• Assist-to-turnover ratio: 2.1 (career best)
• Free‑throw percentage: 81.3 % (helps close tight games)

• Coaching Influence
• Head coach Jerry Stackhouse emphasized “positionless basketball,” leading to a 30 % increase in players operating from the high post.
• The “Plug‑and‑play” rotation—six players logging at least 20 minutes each—has reduced fatigue injuries by 16 %.

• Recruiting Surge
• The top‑10 entry pushed Vanderbilt’s 2026 recruiting class to #15 nationally,attracting notable prospects like shooting guard DeSean Porter from Chicago.
• SEC rivals acknowledge Vanderbilt’s “new‑era offensive schemes” as a reason for their recent 5‑star commitments.

• Top‑10 Implications
• Media outlets (ESPN,CBS Sports) now list vanderbilt among “Dark Horse Teams” for March Madness.
• The Commodores’ TV ratings for the Jan 15 game against Florida are projected to rise 28 % compared with the previous week’s numbers.

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AP Top 25 Poll Methodology – Why These Rankings Matter

1. Panel Composition

• 65 sportswriters and broadcasters across the nation vote weekly.
• Each voter submits a ranked list of 25 teams; points are assigned (25 pts for a #1 vote, 24 pts for #2, etc.).

2. Weighting Factors

• strength of schedule (SOS) accounts for ~30 % of the final score.
• Head‑to‑head results and margin of victory influence tie‑breakers.

3. Timing of Release

• The Jan 12, 2026 poll coincided with the conclusion of the first half of conference play, providing a clear snapshot before the mid‑season tournament window.

4. Impact on Seeding

• Historical data from the past decade shows that a top‑5 AP ranking correlates with an average 3‑seed or better in the NCAA tournament.

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Practical Tips for Fans: Following the New Rankings

• Stay Updated
• subscribe to the AP Poll email alerts on APNews.com for real‑time changes after each game weekend.

• Watch Key Matchups
• arizona vs. Oregon (Jan 20) – potential to extend the winning streak to 12.
• Iowa State vs. Kansas state (Jan 22) – coudl solidify the Cyclones’ #2 hold.
• Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee (Jan 24) – a chance for the Commodores to crack the top 5.

• Engage on Social Media
• Use hashtags #APTop25, #Wildcats, #Cyclones, #commodores to join the conversation.
• Follow the official @APSports Twitter feed for behind‑the‑scenes poll insights.

• Ticket Strategies
• Purchase early‑bird season tickets for Arizona and Iowa State games; both programs report a 15‑20 % increase in secondary‑market prices after ranking boosts.

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quick Reference Table: Jan 12, 2026 AP Top 25 Snapshot

Rank	Team	record (Overall)	record (Conference)	Avg. Points	Defensive Rating
1	Arizona Wildcats	14‑0	8‑0	87.3	101.2
2	Iowa State Cyclones	13‑1	7‑1	81.5	105.8
3	Texas	12‑2	6‑2	79.4	108.0
4	Kansas	12‑2	6‑2	78.9	107.5
5	Villanova	11‑3	5‑3	77.2	109.1
…	…	…	…	…	…
9	Florida	10‑4	5‑3	75.6	110.0
10	Vanderbilt Commodores	9‑5	5‑3	74.8	111.2

Data compiled from NCAA official statistics and AP poll point totals.

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