After we saw a rough week for the top five in last week’s rankings, we got to see a bit more stability at the top of the rankings, as you will see when we discuss it this week.
We know there won’t be much change to the top 10, besides Michigan State and Kansas moving out after their losses this past weekend. We are also starting to see several other teams finding themselves in tough games, which has pushed them down or out of the top 25. This week will we see another four teams take a spot in the top 25, while teams like Auburn, Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas State all fall out.
Iowa and Auburn are two of those teams who have suffered with tough games that have continuously held them back. Minnesota and Kansas State made me believers in what they can do, as they repeatedly play to earn their spot into the top 25, but I have given that a rest, as it’s time to give other teams a look in the rankings. So let’s find out who I got in this week’s rankings.
Top 25 Rankings
- Tennessee (18-1)
- Michigan (19-1)
- Virginia (18-1)
- Gonzaga (19-2)
- Duke (17-2)
- Nevada (19-1)
- Kentucky (16-3)
- North Carolina (15-4)
- Michigan State (18-3)
- Virginia Tech (16-3)
- Marquette (18-3)
- Kansas (16-4)
- Houston (20-1)
- Villanova (16-4)
- Buffalo (18-2)
- LSU (16-3)
- North Carolina State (16-4)
- Mississippi State (15-4)
- Louisville (15-5)
- Texas Tech (16-4)
- Maryland (16-5)
- Cincinnati (18-3)
- Washington (16-4)
- Mississippi (14-5)
- Iowa State (15-5)
On the Bubble
Temple, Florida State, Syracuse, St. John’s, Purdue, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, TCU and UCF.
Dropped from the Rankings
Kansas State, Auburn, Minnesot and Iowa.
Top 25 Breakdown
Numbers One through Five
I have decided to leave my top five teams the way they were last week, but this could change again as they all look forward to having some tough conference games that might hold them back. You can see their schedule for this week here. This week will be bigger for Michigan than it is for the other teams, because they are finally getting into the games against opponents who will test them. Michigan could be the first team to drop out of the top five, but let’s see how it all plays out.
Numbers Six through 10
Nevada and North Carolina took advantage of the losses by Michigan State and Kansas, as they moved up higher in the rankings.
Kentucky helped themselves by beating Kansas in their showdown, as they look to continue to be the best team in the SEC despite not playing Tennessee yet.
Virginia Tech split their two games last week. That is the sole reason why they have been jumped this week.
Michigan State’s loss to Purdue is their reason for dropping in the rankings. Usually when a top 10 team losses to an unranked team, they get knocked out of the top 10, but there was a lot that happened this week with other teams like Virginia Tech that has allowed the Spartans to remain in the top 10. Unfortunately, that won’t be helping Purdue make it back into the top 25, but let’s continue to see who is!
Numbers 11 through 15
Marquette, Houston and Villanova have all continued to play well and managed to not lose their games. In fact, all three of them played so well that their opponents didn’t know what hit them. The losses to other teams like North Carolina State, Texas Tech and Mississippi State also help them jump into the top 15.
Kansas’ loss to Kentucky also helped Marquette jump them, but it didn’t really hurt Kansas either. They might have fallen out of the top 10 with their loss, but we may see them right back in it after this week.
I think Buffalo got the luckiest draw when it came to cracking the top 15. They did move up despite losing one of their two games. Their move was simply due to consecutive losses by other teams like Auburn, Mississippi and Maryland.
Numbers 16 through 20
LSU and Louisville are quickly moving up the rankings as they continue to be hot. Louisville has another date with North Carolina this week and are looking for the season sweep. If they’re able to do so, they could be the first five loss team in the top 15, but it could also push them out of the top 25 if they lose.
North Carolina State has the biggest week of their season, as they have games against two top 10 teams, Virginia and Virginia Tech. If they want to prove they are a worthy opponent in the ACC, this week will be big for them.
It’s also going to be an important week for Texas Tech and Mississippi State, as they are set on getting revenge for their earlier losses to conference rivals also fighting for a better position in the rankings. Texas Tech will take on Kansas and Mississippi State has Mississippi, but can they both win and manage to keep their hopes alive?
Numbers 21 through 25
How about Maryland, Iowa State and Mississippi? Maryland has to deal with Wisconsin this week as they look to stay ranked, but Wisconsin wants to take over Maryland’s spot. A win for them could do that.
Iowa State has two conference opponents this week and both games are winnable. If they want to remain in the top 25, they will need to win both games.
Mississippi’s game against Mississippi State is likely a game where the winner remains in the top 25 and loser won’t. So we can expect to see another team on the bubble to be placed in as a replacement.
This week we have two new teams to crack the top 25 in Cincinnati and Washington. They have both been playing extremely well and look to be one of the top two teams in their respected conference.
Washington is helping the PAC-12 get back to basics after we have seen the conference out of the top 25 for nearly two months now. First, it was Oregon and Arizona, then Arizona State got a chance as well. But now it’s time to see what the Huskies can do as they look to continue to finish strong.
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Until then, we will be looking forward to seeing if the same teams are in the top 25 next week. Who will rise? Who will fall? Can one of the bubble teams make their case for a top 25 spot? Stay tuned next week and see who’s in and out of the top 25. Also, share who you believe should be in the top 25 based on what you’ve seen this season!
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