The Bruins (37-1) climbed from No. 2 to claim the summit, supplanting the Huskies (38-1), who despite owning the best record in the poll slid two spots to No. 3. UCLA's near-flawless résumé — just one blemish all season — proved enough to convince voters that one fewer loss and championship momentum outweighs UConn's superior win total. The Gamecocks (36-4) nudged up to No. 2, giving us a familiar blue-blood trio separated by the slimmest of margins.
The Horned Frogs (32-6) authored the poll's most dramatic rise, vaulting eight spots from No. 14 to No. 6 — a surge that announces TCU as a legitimate threat. The Fighting Irish (25-11) matched that eight-spot climb, jumping from No. 22 to No. 9 and signaling that Notre Dame's late-season push was no mirage.
At the other end, the Hawkeyes (27-7) endured the steepest tumble, dropping nine spots from No. 7 to No. 16. The Commodores (29-5) and Buckeyes (27-8) also slid despite winning records, reminders that in this race, standing still means falling behind.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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