Tar Heels Drop to No. 16 in Latest AP Top 25 Poll

North Carolina basketball falls five spots after 1-1 week

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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North Carolina basketball has dropped five spots to No. 16 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, following a loss to Miami and a win over Pitt last week. The Tar Heels are the third-highest ranked team in the ACC behind Duke and Virginia.

Why it matters

North Carolina is a perennial college basketball powerhouse, so their ranking in the AP poll is closely watched by fans and analysts alike. This drop in the rankings could impact their seeding in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The details

After rising to No. 11 in last week's poll, North Carolina has now fallen to No. 16 following a loss to Miami on Tuesday and a win over Pitt. The Tar Heels are still the third-highest ranked ACC team behind Duke (No. 3) and Virginia (No. 14), with Louisville (No. 21) being the only other ACC team in the top 25. Clemson and Miami both received votes but did not crack the top 25.

  • On Tuesday, North Carolina lost to Miami.
  • On Saturday, North Carolina defeated Pitt.

The players

North Carolina Tar Heels

The men's basketball team of the University of North Carolina, a perennial powerhouse in college basketball.

Duke Blue Devils

The men's basketball team of Duke University, a longtime rival of North Carolina and the second-highest ranked ACC team in the AP poll.

Virginia Cavaliers

The men's basketball team of the University of Virginia, the fourth-highest ranked ACC team in the AP poll.

Louisville Cardinals

The men's basketball team of the University of Louisville, the only other ACC team besides North Carolina, Duke, and Virginia ranked in the AP Top 25.

Clemson Tigers

The men's basketball team of Clemson University, which received votes in the AP poll but did not crack the top 25.

Miami Hurricanes

The men's basketball team of the University of Miami, which received votes in the AP poll but did not crack the top 25.

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What’s next

North Carolina will take on N.C. State in Raleigh on Tuesday before traveling to face Syracuse on Saturday.

The takeaway

North Carolina's drop in the AP rankings highlights the competitiveness of the ACC this season, with several teams vying for top spots. The Tar Heels will need to bounce back with strong performances in their upcoming games to regain their position among the nation's elite college basketball programs.