Top Teams Toppled Means New No. 1s in Men's and Women's College Hockey

Puck Drop: New rankings and big games ahead after upsets shake up the polls

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Both the top-ranked men's and women's college hockey teams suffered losses on Saturday, resulting in shakeups in the national rankings. On the men's side, No. 2 Michigan State defeated No. 1 Michigan 5-2 in the Duel in the D rivalry game, while on the women's side, No. 2 Ohio State beat No. 1 Wisconsin 4-1. These results will make for tough decisions for the voters in the upcoming polls, with the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 now much narrower in both the men's and women's rankings.

Why it matters

The upsets of the top-ranked teams in both men's and women's college hockey will have major implications for the national rankings and tournament seedings. With the conferences races heating up and the postseason approaching, these results could significantly impact which teams earn the top seeds and best paths to the national championships.

The details

In the men's game, Michigan State outshot Michigan 37-27 and never trailed in the 5-2 victory at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Spartans killed off all three of Michigan's power-play attempts. On the women's side, Ohio State took down defending national champion Wisconsin 4-1 at home, with the Buckeyes holding a one-point lead in the WCHA standings. Both the men's and women's No. 1 teams had been heavy favorites heading into the weekend.

  • On February 7, 2026, No. 2 Michigan State defeated No. 1 Michigan 5-2 in the Duel in the D rivalry game.
  • On February 8, 2026, No. 2 Ohio State played at No. 1 Wisconsin, with the winner likely to take over the top spot in the women's rankings.

The players

Adam Nightingale

The head coach of the Michigan State men's hockey team.

Brandon Naurato

The head coach of the Michigan men's hockey team.

Hilary Knight

A former Wisconsin women's hockey player who tied the record for career goals by an American at the Olympic Winter Games.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited. I just think for our guys to be able to play in this type of environment … we just got to play that outdoor game — it was an awesome event, we got to play in the GLI and in a packed house at Van Andel Arena, and then to play here; I think this is the best building in the NHL. I think just in general for our guys and our alums right, they're proud and we had a lot of people that came out in support of us. It's a big win for our team, a big moment for sure, but there's still a lot of hockey left here, and we've got to keep focused on getting better.”

— Adam Nightingale, Michigan State Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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