Men's AP Top 25 poll reaction: Duke slides after loss vs. Texas Tech

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ESPN

Dec 22, 2025, 01:24 PM ET

The seventh in-season edition of the men's AP Top 25 poll features a notable change at the top.

While Arizona and Michigan retain their positions at No. 1 and 2, respectively, Duke falls from No. 3 to No. 6 after suffering its first loss of the season on Saturday: a 17-point, second-half comeback by Texas Tech. Iowa State, UConn and Purdue each move up a spot as a result, though the top 10 otherwise remains the same week-over-week.

Further down the board, St. John's and Auburn fall out, while USC and Iowa join the mix.

Let's run through statistical highlights and the next game for each of the Top 25 teams.

All times Eastern. All stats courtesy of ESPN Research unless otherwise noted.

Previous polls: Preseason | Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

1. Arizona Wildcats

Previous ranking: 1

2025-26 record: 11-0

Stat to know: Arizona has won six straight games by 20 or more points, the longest active streak in Division I. This is the seventh time the Wildcats have opened a season 11-0.

What's next: Monday vs. Bethune-Cookman, 9 p.m., ESPN+

2. Michigan Wolverines

Previous ranking: 2

2025-26 record: 11-0

Stat to know: Michigan's six 100-point games are the most in Division I this season. Sunday's 102-50 win over La Salle was the Wolverines' fifth victory of 40 or more points, tying 1991-91 Indiana and 1988-89 Michigan for the most in Big Ten history (since 1905-06).

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. McNeese, 7 p.m., B1G+

3. Iowa State Cyclones

Previous ranking: 4

2025-26 record: 12-0

Stat to know: Iowa State's 91-60 win over Long Beach State on Sunday was the program's seventh victory by 25 or more points this season, tied for most in Division I and trailing only Michigan.

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. Houston Christian, 8 p.m., ESPN+

4. UConn Huskies

Previous ranking: 5

2025-26 record: 12-1

Stat to know: UConn is off to its best start since 2022-23, when the Huskies opened their national championship-winning campaign on a 14-0 run. Alex Karaban is making his way up the list of most made 3-pointers in program history, cementing himself at No. 6 with 240 career 3s after Sunday's 3-for-6 effort against DePaul.

What's next: Dec. 31 at Xaiver, 5 p.m., Peacock

5. Purdue Boilermakers

Previous ranking: 6

2025-26 record: 11-1

Stat to know: Braden Smith leads the Big Ten in point-assist double-doubles after notching his third of the season on Sunday with 11 points and 14 assists in a win over Auburn. He also became the first Purdue player in at least 20 seasons with three straight 10+ assist games.

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. Kent State, 7 p.m., B1G+

6. Duke Blue Devils

Previous ranking: 3

2025-26 record: 11-1

Stat to know: Duke suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, allowing Texas Tech to mount a 17-point comeback in an 82-81 win at Madison Square Garden. It was the Blue Devils' largest blown lead since 2007; it snapped their 69-0 win streak when leading by 15-plus points with Jon Scheyer at the helm (since 2022-23).

What's next: Dec. 31 vs. Georgia Tech, 4 p.m., ACC Network

7. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Previous ranking: 7

2025-26 record: 12-1

Stat to know: Gonzaga is off to its best start since 2020-21, when it started 31-0 before ultimately losing to Baylor in the national championship. This was the Zags' ninth game of 90-plus points, tying Akron and Alabama for the most in Division I this season.

What's next: Sunday at Pepperdine, 8 p.m., ESPN+

8. Houston Cougars

Previous ranking: 8

2025-26 record: 11-1

Stat to know: With Saturday's 94-85 win over Arkansas, Houston improves to 37-0 when it scores 90 or more points under Kelvin Sampson (since 2014-15).

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN+

9. Michigan State Spartans

Previous ranking: 9

2025-26 record: 11-1

Stat to know: Jaxon Kohler became the first Michigan State player to record three straight double-doubles since Xavier Tillman in 2019-20 with his 13 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday's win over Oakland.

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. Cornell, 7 p.m., FS1

10. BYU Cougars

Previous ranking: 10

2025-26 record: 11-1

Stat to know: AJ Dybantsa had a career-high 35 points against Abilene Christian on Friday, the second-most single-game points by a freshman in BYU history. Danny Ainge had 36 points in 1977-78 against Idaho State.

What's next: Monday vs. Eastern Washington, 9 p.m., ESPN+

11. Vanderbilt Commodores

Previous ranking: 13

2025-26 record: 12-0

Stat to know: Vanderbilt is on its longest win streak to start a season since opening the 2007-08 campaign on a 16-0 run.

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. New Haven, 6 p.m.

12. North Carolina Tar Heels

Previous ranking: 12

2025-26 record: 11-1

Stat to know: North Carolina is off to its best start since 2008-09, when the Tar Heels opened their season 13-0 before eventually winning the national title.

What's next: Monday vs. East Carolina, 8 p.m., ACC Network

13. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Previous ranking: 15

2025-26 record: 12-0

Stat to know: Nebraska is off to its best start in program history. Its 16-game win streak dating back to last season is also the longest win streak in school history.

What's next: Dec. 30 vs. New Hampshire, 9 p.m., Big Ten Network

14. Alabama Crimson Tide

Previous ranking: 16

2025-26 record: 9-3

Stat to know: Alabama recorded its ninth game of 90 or more points with Sunday's 92-81 win over Kennesaw State, tying Kent State and Gonzaga with most in Division I this season.

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. Yale, 8 p.m., SEC Network

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Previous ranking: 19

2025-26 record: 9-3

Stat to know: Texas Tech mounted the largest comeback win by any team against an AP top-three team since 2017-18 with Saturday's 17-point come-from-behind victory over a previously unbeaten Duke.

What's next: Sunday vs. Winthrop, 2 p.m., TNT

16. Louisville Cardinals

Previous ranking: 11

2025-26 record: 10-2

Stat to know: Louisville improves to 8-0 against unranked opponents with Saturday's 94-54 win over Montana -- the Cardinals' fourth win by 40 or more points, tied with Michigan and Kentucky for the most in Division I this season.

What's next: Dec. 30 at Cal, 9 p.m., ACC Network

17. Kansas Jayhawks

Previous ranking: 17

2025-26 record: 9-3

Stat to know: Flory Bidunga posted his fifth double-double this season, tied for most in Big 12, with 18 points and 10 rebounds against Towson last week.

What's next: Monday vs. Davidson, 8 p.m., ESPN+

18. Arkansas Razorbacks

Previous ranking: 14

2025-26 record: 9-3

Stat to know: Darius Acuff Jr. became the first Arkansas freshman with three straight 20-point games in at least the last 20 seasons with his career-high 27 points in Saturday's loss to Houston.

What's next: Dec. 29 vs. James Madison, 8 p.m., SEC Network

19. Tennessee Volunteers

Previous ranking: 20

2025-26 record: 9-3

Stat to know: Tennessee is on a 43-game nonconference home winning streak, tied a program record.

What's next: Dec. 30 vs. South Carolina State, 8 p.m., SEC Network

20. Illinois Fighting Illini

Previous ranking: 18

2025-26 record: 8-3

Stat to know: Illinois hasn't played since suffering its first home loss of the season on Dec. 13 to Nebraska. All three of its losses have come against ranked opponents (Alabama and UConn).

What's next: Monday at Missouri, 8 p.m., FS1