Updated Men’s College Basketball Rankings: Boozer & Duke Close in on Top Spot (Dec. 19, 2025)

The 2025-26 men’s college basketball season is over a month old, and the top programs around the country are showing what makes them better than the rest. So who are the best of the best in the sport right now? We look to answer that question with our latest men’s college basketball rankings, showcasing the top 25 teams as of Dec. 19, 2025.

25. Florida (LW: 20)

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Following a tough loss to Arizona to open the year, defending champions Florida rebounded and got on a bit roll by winning four straight. However, the tough schedule they have this season continues to be a problem for the Gators.

Juniors Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh have played well with expanded roles this season, but it hasn’t been enough to avoid losing four of their first 10, including to elite programs Duke and UConn recently. One more loss and the defending champs will fall out of the top 25.

24. Georgia (LW: UR)

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Since arriving in 2022, coach Michael White has helped return Georgia’s basketball program into a force again in the SEC. The Bulldogs have had an impressive 10-1 start to the season. The team has gotten outstanding play from the backcourt duo of Jeremiah Wilkinson (17.9 points) and Blue Cain (15.6 points).

The pair is a major reason why Georgia heads into the weekend leading the nation in scoring (98.3 PPG) and lands a spot in our latest college basketball rankings.

23. Auburn (LW: 19)

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Senior Keyshawn Hall is making a statement early in the new season for Auburn. He is averaging a double-double (20.9 points and 8.8 boards), is top 20 in the nation in scoring, and has spearheaded a rock-solid Tigers team in 2025-26.

The saving grace is that their three defeats this season have come against elite teams, including No. 1 Arizona and Michigan.

22. St. John’s (LW: 25)

There were huge expectations for St. John’s this season after a big year in 2024-25. However, things have been bumpy over the first month and change for the Red Storm. After losing just five times last season, they already have three after 10 games.

The saving grace is that they have all come to ranked teams. Nevertheless, top star Zuby Ejiofor and his team have work to do if they want to make a real jump in these college basketball rankings.

21. Virginia (LW: UR)

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Head coach Ryan Odom had a rough start in his first year overseeing Virginia. However, year two has gotten off to an impressive 9-1 start, thanks to the strong play of Belgian big man Thijs de Ridder. The freshman forward is posting 16.1 points and 6.0 rebounds, while shooting 42.3% from three and 55.1% from the floor in his debut season. This group is one to watch in the ACC this season.

20. Texas Tech (LW: 17)

Texas Tech has progressed during Grant McCasland’s first two seasons overseeing the Red Raiders program. Meaning 2025-26 has a lot of potential and could see the team win 30 games for the first time in 30 years. If the impressive scoring duo of JT Toppin and Christian Anderson can continue to play like they already have — they are posting 40 points a night — Tech can be a tough out all year in the Big 12.

Nevertheless, they have a lot to prove nationally, after losing to the three ranked teams they have played this year, including by 30 to Purdue.

19. Tennessee (LW: 20)

Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is proving why he is a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. He is second on the team in points (16.0) and leads in rebounds (7.1) per game. The combo of him and senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie is why the Vols kicked off the season by winning their first seven games.

However, they have fallen into a deep slump over the last couple of weeks and lost three straight, including to Illinois. Fortunately, they stopped the recent skid with a surprisingly dominant 21-point win over Louisville.

18. Illinois (LW: 14)

Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a top program in the Big Ten since arriving in 2020, and nothing’s changed this year. Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic has immediately become one of the team’s top scorers. However, senior Kylan Boswell’s career year (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) has been big for Illinois this season.

The Fighting Illini have faced five ranked teams this year. They have lost three of those matchups, including to UConn (No shame) and Alabama.

17. Kansas (LW: 16)

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After a disappointing 21-13 result and a first-round ouster in the tournament last year, Bill Self and Kansas are hoping things can get better in 2025-26. But after three early-season losses to top-25 teams, North Carolina, Duke, and UConn, there is understandable concern about this year’s team.

However, sophomore Flory Bidunga (14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game) and the Jayhawks have had very positive moments this season, and have won six of their last seven since falling to the Blue Devils last month.

16. Alabama (LW: 12)

Alabama set up a tough schedule for itself to begin the season, playing games against four straight ranked teams. They split the quartet, scoring wins against St. John’s but also losing to Purdue.

The Crimson Tide is a top 10 offensive team led by NBA lottery prospect Labaron Philon Jr., who has looked very good and is fourth in the nation in scoring (22.4 PPG). He is the tip of the spear for an offense that is posting (94.1 PPG) points a night.

15. Nebraska (LW: 22)

Fred Hoiberg may have his best team yet at Nebraska. The school heads into the weekend with an 11-0 record and has been led by former Bradley recruit Rienk Mast. The Dutch senior is leading his team in points (17.9 PG) and rebounds (6.5) and is also chipping in with 3.0 assists a night.

For much of the season, they lacked a marquee win. However the got it this week when they scored a big W over Illinois. It is why they make a notable jump in the latest college basketball top 25.

14. Arkansas (LW: 18)

Arkansas is going with a pair of freshmen in the backcourt in 2025-26, and so far, the duo of Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. has been pretty good, and are combining for over 35 points and nearly 10 assists a night.

In year two with legendary head coach John Calipari, the Razorbacks are a team to keep an eye on. While they came up short against top 10 schools Michigan State and Duke earlier this year, they have Ws against two top 25 schools in two of their last four, including over Louisville.

13. North Carolina (LW: 13)

Hubert Davis’ North Carolina team is off to a very good start in large part due to the strong play of freshman Caleb Wilson. The Atlanta native leads the Tar Heels in points (19.5), rebounds (10.4), and steals (1.5). However, he is also getting big support from veterans Henri Veesaar and Seth Trimble.

While they were blown out by Michigan State in November, wins over Kansas and Kentucky are why they’ve earned a spot in our latest college basketball top 25.

12. Vanderbilt (LW: 15)

Vanderbilt’s backcourt duo of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles has gotten off to a really good start to the new season, and they are leading a Commodores offense that is scoring 93.7 PPG, which is eighth best in the nation.

While they haven’t faced stiff competition, they have started the season 11-0 and have blowout victories in all but four of those games, including a 50-point win to start the season.

11. Louisville (LW: 10)

Louisville has kicked off its campaign with a 9-2 record due to the strong play of its trio of talented guards. Mikel Brown Jr. is getting a lot of buzz about being a top 10 pick in next year’s NBA Draft. However, senior Ryan Conwell has been just as good, and Cardinals veteran Isaac McKneely is as reliable as ever.

Because of the trio, they have one of the better offenses in the nation (91.4 PPG), and it showed in wins over ranked teams Kentucky and Indiana. However, losses to Arkansas and Tennessee in two of their last four show they still have work to do on defense.

10. BYU (LW: 11)

BYU is seen as a dark-horse title contender this season because of future NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa. However, the Cougars also have a very good backcourt combination in Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III, who are averaging close to 40 points per night.

Although they suffered an early-season loss to UConn, the Cougars bounced back with seven straight — mostly dominant — wins since, including over Wisconsin.

9. Michigan State (LW: 8)

Legendary coach Tom Izzo has another very good Michigan State team on his hands this season. They have a deep squad that has proven to be a handful for opponents because of a defense that is giving up just 62.7 PPG (11th best in the nation). There is no better proof of their potential than scoring a pair of big wins over Kentucky and North Carolina during the first month of the season.

Sophomore Jeremy Fears Jr. has been impressive as one of the leaders of their offense, ranking first in the country in assists (9.5 per game), and it has helped push Jaxon Kohler to a career-best 14.0 points per game.

8. Purdue (LW: 6)

Purdue was once the No. 1 team in the nation because they have something most top 25 teams lack: Top players with a boatload of experience. Seniors Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn are leading the way and combining for close to 30 points a night.

Their ability to use their veteran savvywas helpful in big early-season wins over ranked squads Alabama and Texas Tech. However, their blowout loss to Iowa State shows that experience can be superseded by undeniable talent.

7. Houston (LW: 7)

Kelvin Sampson and his Houston team are again a top team in the nation this year. Senior Emmanuel Sharp has been as important as ever and is leading the way in scoring (17.2 PPG). However, they have the talent to make another deep run in March if freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. develop into the high-impact players as the season progresses.

A huge part of their success and a 10-1 record heading into the weekend is a defense that is giving up the third fewest points in the nation (57.7 PPG).

6. Gonzaga (LW: 9)

Mark Few’s Gonzaga squad is off to a very nice 11-1 start due to high-level play from their veteran front court of Braden Huff and Graham Ike. The duo is posting close to 40 points and 14 boards a night for the Bulldogs.

Their 40-point loss to Michigan made many question how good this team could be. However, bounce-back wins over Kentucky and UCLA were the third and fourth wins over ranked competition this season.

5. Iowa State (LW: 5)

In his final season at Iowa State, Joshua Jefferson is getting the attention of NBA Draft evaluators. The Las Vegas native is first on the team in points (17.5), rebounds (6.7), and assists (5.0). Furthermore, the Cyclones have gotten very good play from fellow senior Tamin Lipsey and forward Milan Momcilovic.

It’s why they have started the year 11-0, and own a destructive victory over former No. 1 team Purdue this season.

4. UConn (LW: 4)

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What a surprise. It’s another season in college basketball, and UConn is among the elite teams in the nation. While they took a bit of a step back last season, they are primed for another deep run in March.

Senior big man Taris Reed Jr. has been great, as well as junior guard Solo Ball. What is so fascinating about the Huskies is that they have been this good and just recently got star freshman Braylon Mullins on the court. The youngster is already showing signs of his immense upside for a program that already has wins over four ranked teams, including BYU.

3. Michigan (LW: 3)

After a month of play, Michigan is showing that head coach Dusty May has a juggernaut on his hands in his second season overseeing the program. A major reason is the addition of Yaxel Lendeborg from the transfer portal.

Yet, while the former UAB star is getting a lot of attention, the Wolverines’ front line, in general, is arguably the best in the nation. It’s a major reason why they are in striking distance of the top spot in our latest college basketball rankings. There is no better proof of their huge potential than a pair of dominant wins this year over Auburn and Gonzaga.

2. Duke (LW: 2)

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Duke is off to another classic Blue Devils start in 2025-26 because of the outstanding play of super prospect Cameron Boozer. The freshman, who had to step in for another super prospect, Cooper Flagg, leads the team — and the nation — in points (23.3), rebounds (10.2), assists (3.7), and steals (1.6).

Beyond the superb play of Boozer, Duke is also getting some solid play from sophomores Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba. It’s why they are in the top three of our latest college basketball rankings after wins over four top 25 teams, including defending champs Florida and Michigan State.

1. Arizona (LW: 1)

Arizona has been outstanding to begin the season and looks primed for a serious run at a championship in March. Led by star senior Jaden Bradley and big-time NBA prospect Koat Peat, the Wildcats have already posted wins over five top 25 teams, including national powerhouses Florida and UConn.

They have four players averaging 10 or more points a game and continue to impress each week as they run through some of the best teams in the country.

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