Duke Extends No. 1 Ranking in AP Top 25 as Top Teams Shuffle

Michigan State, Nebraska, and Texas Tech all crack the top 10 in latest college basketball poll.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Duke University's men's basketball team has extended its record-breaking run at No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, receiving 55 of 59 first-place votes. Meanwhile, several other top teams saw major shifts in the rankings, with Michigan State, Nebraska, and Texas Tech all climbing into the top 10 after key wins.

Why it matters

The constant shuffling of the top teams in the AP poll reflects the competitive and unpredictable nature of this college basketball season. These rankings have major implications for NCAA Tournament seeding and will continue to shape the national narrative around the best teams in the country.

The details

Duke's dominant defensive performances over the past month have propelled them to a 27-2 record and the top spot in the poll for the second straight week. No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 UConn, and No. 5 Florida round out the top five. Texas Tech made the biggest jump, climbing six spots to No. 10 after wins over Cincinnati and Iowa State. Michigan State rose five places to No. 8, while Nebraska moved up three to No. 9. Miami (Ohio), the only remaining undefeated Division I team, reached its highest ranking since 1952-53 at No. 19.

  • Duke has been ranked No. 1 for a record 149 times in program history.
  • Duke clinched the top seed for the ACC Tournament with its 77-51 win over Virginia on Saturday.

The players

Duke

The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, a perennial NCAA powerhouse.

Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team, the No. 2 ranked team in the country.

Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team, which climbed six spots to No. 10 in the latest poll.

Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, which rose five places to No. 8 in the rankings.

Nebraska

The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team, which reached a program-best No. 9 ranking.

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The takeaway

The constant shuffling of the top teams in the AP poll reflects the highly competitive nature of this college basketball season. These rankings will continue to have major implications for NCAA Tournament seeding and the national narrative around the best teams in the country.