Hawaii's 30-5 Rainbow Warriors surged from No. 3 to claim the No. 1 ranking, displacing the 29-2 Bruins, who slipped two spots to No. 3 after holding the pole position. That's not a nudge — that's a coronation. Thirty wins and a two-spot leap says the voters looked at the body of work and decided the throne belongs in Manoa.
The Anteaters made the poll's loudest jump, climbing from No. 6 to No. 2 — a four-slot rocket that puts UC Irvine squarely in the championship conversation alongside Hawaii. Long Beach (25-5) and the Waves (24-7) each slid two spots to Nos. 4 and 6, while the Cardinals (26-5) nudged up to No. 5.
Further down, Penn State made the only other significant move, rising from No. 15 to No. 12. The top of this poll isn't just a reshuffle — it's a signal that the road to a title runs through the islands.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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