Washington jumped from No. 23 to No. 1, the kind of leap that rewrites the entire poll narrative in a single week. At 16-6-2, the Huskies didn't just climb — they catapulted past every contender, turning a ranking that barely had them in the conversation into a resounding endorsement at the top spot.
The fall was equally dramatic. Maryland, last week's No. 1, dropped six spots to No. 7 after a 13-2-4 campaign that suddenly looks vulnerable. Vermont's slide was steeper still — from No. 2 all the way to No. 13. Portland held firm at No. 6, a rare anchor of stability in a poll that moved like tectonic plates.
The real statement is depth. NC State (16-3-4) surged from 11 to 2, Furman climbed from 12 to 3, and Saint Louis leapt from 22 to 4. Three new entries — Hofstra, Grand Canyon, and UConn — crashed the party at 20, 21, and 24. This isn't a poll anymore. It's a race with no safe ground.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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