The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats 82-78 on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse, handing Arizona its first loss of the season. Kansas pulled off the victory despite missing leading scorer Darryn Peterson due to flu-like symptoms. The win propelled Kansas to No. 9 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 rankings, while Arizona dropped to No. 2 and Michigan ascended to No. 1.
In a dramatic comeback at Allen Fieldhouse, the Kansas Jayhawks overcame a 11-point deficit in the second half to upset the undefeated No. 1 Arizona Wildcats 82-78 on February 10, 2026. The game marked Arizona's first loss, shifting the national landscape in college basketball rankings.
Kansas head coach Bill Self highlighted the electric atmosphere, stating, "This place won this game tonight. Allen Fieldhouse won this game tonight." The crowd's energy was crucial, especially as Kansas played without Darryn Peterson, their top scorer sidelined by flu-like symptoms. Self noted the uncertainty around Peterson's status, saying, "We didn't know until probably 7:00, 7:30, that he probably wasn't gonna be able to go. But we knew it was 50/50 yesterday."
Melvin Council Jr. led Kansas with 23 points, six rebounds, six assists, and a steal, taking 25 shots in 40 minutes despite making only six. Self praised the team's increased aggressiveness without Peterson: "We're not as good, but we're more aggressive individually... Melvin getting 25 shots, even though he didn't make them, but getting downhill like that."
Flory Bidunga contributed effectively against Arizona's strong interior presence, with Self commenting, "I thought Flory did well, but their big guy is good... We got dominated in the first half inside, but the second half, we didn't." Jamari McDowell and Bryson Warren kept Kansas competitive early, as Self said, "If it weren't for those two guys, we would have been behind and probably put ourselves in a position that may have been too much to come back."
The victory boosts Kansas' confidence, with Self adding, "I believe our best ball can still be well ahead of us." In updated rankings, Michigan took over as No. 1 with a 22-1 record, while Arizona fell to No. 2 and Kansas rose to No. 9.