This might finally be the week that we see the No. 1 team in the country, and the last unbeatens, go down.
Here’s everything you missed in the 12th week of the regular season, and the latest Associated Press poll.
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Is this the week?
This is a critical week for the top of college basketball.
Arizona remained the top team in the country once again on Monday, one week after the Wildcats earned the spot unanimously for the first time all season. But finally, for the first time in well over a month, the Wildcats are looking at a ranked matchup and have a chance to remind everyone they’ve earned the No. 1 ranking.
The Wildcats will travel to No. 13 BYU on Monday night, and they’re getting the Cougars at perhaps the worst possible time. BYU, after slipping at Texas Tech last week, rallied to beat Utah by double digits Saturday behind a 43-point night from projected lottery pick AJ Dybantsa. It marked the first 40 point game of his career, and set a new BYU freshman record. While it would likely take another similar effort to pull off the upset, Dybantsa has already more than proven he’s capable.
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UConn is just hanging on, but the Huskies beat Villanova in overtime Saturday to grab their 15th straight win, which kept them in second in the national poll. Michigan handled both Indiana and Ohio State last week and sits at No. 3, and Duke pushed its win streak to seven to get to No. 4.
Nebraska, thanks to Houston’s slip at Texas Tech and Purdue’s stumble, then jumped into the top five for the first time ever. The Boilermakers fell twice this past week, first at UCLA and then again Saturday at Illinois. That dropped them eight spots to No. 12, which completely opened up the Big Ten race for Nebraska — which will have all eyes on it in that league over the next week.
The Cornhuskers are off to a perfect 20-0 start, the best in school history, and are one of just three undefeated teams left in the country. But on Tuesday, the Huskers have to travel to Michigan — which has won four straight — and then they’ll host Illinois on Sunday. It marks by far the toughest stretch of their schedule this season.
A pair of wins would not only be unprecedented for Fred Hoiberg’s program in Lincoln, but it would give them complete control of the conference with just one ranked opponent left on their schedule before the Big Ten tournament. But if they can’t at least split those games, or at a minimum keep them both close, the questions about Nebraska basketball’s legitimacy will undoubtedly creep back in, fair or not.
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Who knows? By this time next week, Miami (Ohio) may be the last undefeated team standing.
Games to watch this week
All times ET | * denotes neutral site
Monday, Jan. 26
No. 20 Louisville at No. 4 Duke | 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 1 Arizona at No. 13 BYU | 9 p.m. | ESPN
Tuesday, Jan. 27
No. 5 Nebraska at No. 3 Michigan | 7 p.m. | Peacock
Friday, Jan. 30
No. 3 Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State | 8 p.m. | Fox
Saturday, Jan. 31
No. 13 BYU at No. 14 Kansas | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN
Kentucky at No. 15 Arkansas | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN
Sunday, Feb. 1
No. 23 Alabama at No. 19 Florida | 1 p.m. | ABC
No. 9 Illinois at No. 5 Nebraska | 4 p.m. | FS1
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AP Top 25
The full Associated Press men’s basketball poll from Jan. 26, 2026.
1. Arizona (20-0)
2. UConn (19-1)
3. Michigan (18-1)
4. Duke (18-1)
5. Nebraska (20-0)
6. Gonzaga (21-1)
7. Michigan State (18-2)
8. Iowa State (18-2)
9. Illinois (17-3)
10. Houston (17-2)
11. Texas Tech (16-4)
12. Purdue (17-3)
13. BYU (17-2)
14. Kansas (15-5)
15. Arkansas (15-5)
16. North Carolina (16-4)
17. Virginia (16-3)
18. Vanderbilt (17-3)
19. Florida (14-6)
20. Louisville (14-5)
21. Saint Louis (19-1)
22. Clemson (17-4)
23. Alabama (13-6)
24. Miami (OH) (20-0)
25. St. John’s (15-5)
Others receiving votes: Tennessee 88, Kentucky 51, Georgia 49, Iowa 30, Texas A&M 27, Auburn 15, NC State 8, SMU 4, Saint Mary’s 3, Utah State 2, Villanova 2, Wisconsin 1
