Duke has ascended to the top of the Associated Press Top 25 college basketball rankings for the first time this season, following a 68-63 victory over previously No. 1 Michigan on a neutral court. The win, powered by 18 points from Cameron Boozer, marked the Blue Devils' biggest triumph of the year. Michigan slipped to No. 3 with its second loss.
The Associated Press poll released on February 23, 2026, reflects a shake-up in college basketball's top ranks after a pivotal weekend. Duke (25-2) overtook Michigan (25-2) at No. 1, bolstered by their head-to-head non-conference matchup on Saturday. Cameron Boozer contributed 18 points in the game, aligning with his season averages of 22.6 points and 10 rebounds per game on over 58% shooting. This victory positions Duke as the new favorite for the top overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Michigan remains a strong contender at No. 3, still in control of the Big Ten title race despite the five-point defeat. The Wolverines' only other loss came earlier in the season. Elsewhere, Arizona (25-2) rose to No. 2 after defeating Houston on the road, handing the Cougars their first home loss of the year. Houston (23-4) dropped to No. 5 following consecutive losses to top-10 teams Iowa State and Arizona, doubling their season loss total in four days.
Iowa State climbed to No. 4 despite a loss to BYU, while UConn fell to No. 6 after a home defeat to Creighton. Kansas slid to No. 14 amid two losses in its last three games. Miami (Ohio), the lone undefeated team at 27-0, stands as the highest-ranked mid-major program. The poll marks the first time in over a year that both the previous Nos. 1 and 2 teams lost on the same day.
Duke faces a challenging schedule ahead, including games against Notre Dame, No. 11 Virginia, NC State, and a rematch with North Carolina to close the regular season. Their earlier losses to Texas Tech and North Carolina add context to the Michigan win's significance.
