Wolverines Rout UCLA, Poised for No. 1 Ranking

Michigan dominates second half to set up potential return to top of AP Top 25

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines cruised to an 86-56 victory over UCLA on Saturday, putting the program in position to be ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2013. Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 17 points and 8 rebounds as Michigan pulled away in the second half with a 9-0 run.

Why it matters

Michigan has not been ranked No. 1 since the 2012-13 season, when they reached the national championship game led by Trey Burke and John Beilein. This win over a ranked UCLA team positions the Wolverines to potentially take over the top spot in the country for the first time in nearly a decade.

The details

Michigan (24-1, 14-1 Big Ten) broke open a close game early in the second half, making 9 consecutive shots including two 3-pointers from Lendeborg to turn a tight contest into a rout. The Bruins (17-8, 9-5) had won 5 of their previous 6 games before running into the buzzsaw that was the Wolverines on Saturday.

  • Michigan last held the No. 1 ranking on January 28, 2013.
  • The Wolverines' last loss came on January 1, 2026.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

A standout player for the Michigan Wolverines, Lendeborg led the team with 17 points and 8 rebounds in the victory over UCLA.

Trey Burke

The former Michigan star and AP National Player of the Year in 2013, Burke led the Wolverines to the national championship game that season before losing to Louisville.

John Beilein

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines from 2007-2019, Beilein guided the team to the 2013 national title game.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the 2013 Louisville team that defeated Michigan in the national championship game.

Trent Perry

The UCLA Bruins player who scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half against Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

Michigan's dominant performance against a ranked UCLA team puts them in prime position to return to the No. 1 ranking in the country for the first time in nearly a decade, a milestone that would cap the program's resurgence under head coach John Beilein.