Kentucky Climbs to No. 6 in AP Poll as SEC Dominates College Basketball Rankings

Kentucky jumped to No. 6 in the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll, marking its highest ranking since Week 7. The Wildcats earned this position after defeating previously unbeaten Florida in a high-scoring game. Conversely, Kansas fell to No. 11 after a week that included a narrow 62-61 loss to West Virginia. This is the earliest in a season that a preseason No. 1 Kansas team has fallen out of the top 10 under coach Bill Self, underscoring early struggles compared to previous seasons.

The SEC continues to dominate the rankings, with nine teams featured in the Top 25, including Tennessee at No. 1 and Auburn at No. 2. Tennessee strengthened its grip on the top spot, increasing its share of first-place votes after remaining undefeated. Auburn held on to second place, making it the fourth consecutive week that these two teams have monopolized the top two positions. Alabama, Florida, and Texas A&M joined Kentucky in the top 10, further emphasizing the SEC’s depth this season.

Illinois was the biggest mover in this week’s poll, climbing nine spots to No. 13 after road victories over Oregon and Washington. UConn returned to the top 10, landing at No. 9 after extending its winning streak to eight games. Meanwhile, Cincinnati, Arkansas, and Baylor dropped out of the rankings and were replaced by West Virginia, Michigan, and Utah State. West Virginia and Utah State made their season debuts in the poll, while Michigan returned for the first time since Week 7.

Tennessee maintained its status as the only undefeated team in college basketball, securing 45 first-place votes compared to Auburn’s 15. This week also highlighted the SEC’s overall strength, with three of the top five and six of the top 10 teams coming from the conference. The Big Ten followed with six ranked teams, while the Big 12 featured four. Other conferences with ranked representation included the Big East, ACC, AAC, WCC, and MWC.

The SEC’s nine ranked teams solidify its dominance, surpassing other conferences by a significant margin. The Big Ten’s six teams and the Big 12’s four teams round out the top contributors to the poll. The week’s reshuffling highlights the SEC’s firm grip on college basketball, with top teams like Tennessee and Auburn leading the way and a depth that reflects the league’s competitive advantage.