AP Poll Week 13 Shocker: Unexpected Teams Surge as Playoff Picture Shifts Dramatically

What a rollercoaster Week 12 has been in college basketball—but guess what? Not a single undefeated squad bit the dust. Yeah, you heard me right. The Arizona Wildcats, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Miami-OH Redhawks each crushed a flawless 5-0 stretch, tipping the scales at a stunning 20-0. That kind of dominance? It’s a rare breed. The last time anyone hit 20-plus wins without a loss was Gonzaga back in 2021—remember their amazing 30-0 run ended heartbreakingly in the national championship? Now, to have THREE teams standing tall this deep into the season? It’s absolutely electric. Meanwhile, Purdue’s stumble—two brutal losses that sent them plummeting eight spots—reminds us all how quickly fortunes can twist. Alabama’s rollercoaster week, Georgia bowing out, and St. John’s sneaking into the rankings—all these twists make this season one to watch closely. Buckle up as we tear into the AP Poll Analysis for Week 13 and what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable stretch of hoops! LEARN MORE

Week 12’s college basketball action did not knock out any undefeated teams.

The Arizona Wildcats, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Miami-OH Redhawks went a perfect 5-0 and all reached the 20-0 mark. The last time any team reached 20-0 or better was Gonzaga in 2021, who started 30-0 before losing in the national championship game to the Baylor Bears. Now we have three in one season.

Among the other teams, Purdue took a big hit and fell eight spots after back-to-back losses to UCLA and Illinois. The Boilermakers were 17-1 heading into the week but lost on a late go-ahead three in LA midweek and a 46-point attack by Illinois’s stud freshman Keaton Wagler on Saturday.

Alabama also dropped several spots after a close win over Oklahoma was followed up with a home loss to Tennessee. Just one team dropped out of the rankings—Georgia—and St. John’s took their place at #25.

Let’s dive into AP Poll Analysis for Week 13 of the 2025-2026 college basketball season:

Notes:

UNC had a bounce-back week, pounding Notre Dame at home and besting Virginia on the road. Georgia Tech and Syracuse will give them opportunities to keep the wins rolling before the first showdown with Duke on February 7th.
Arkansas is rolling in SEC play this month, blowing the doors off Vanderbilt 93-68 Tuesday night and then holding off LSU Saturday for a 2-0 home sweep. This week they’ll travel to Oklahoma before returning home for their biggest game of the year: hosting Kentucky.
If Nebraska is going to enter the next AP poll undefeated, they’ll have to beat the best the Big Ten has to throw at them: they’re at Michigan Tuesday and home vs Illinois Sunday. Win those and you might have a case for being ranked #1.
Texas Tech had a historic day against Houston Saturday. The Red Raiders logged 55 points in just the first half, and then held on in the 2nd for a 90-86 win that moved them into 2nd place in the Big 12 standings. Houston sometimes doesn’t allow 55 points in an entire game, and Texas Tech blew their defense apart in a stellar performance at home.
Biggest games this week: #5 Nebraska at #3 Michigan and #3 Michigan at #7 Michigan State. They both involve Michigan and they both have a lot at stake in the battle for the Big Ten.