The UCLA Bruins (37-1) rose to No. 1 in the final rankings, overtaking the UConn Huskies (38-1), who slipped from the top spot to No. 3 despite just one loss all season. South Carolina (36-4) jumped two slots to No. 2, setting the stage for a crowded summit where four teams finished with four or fewer defeats.
The poll's loudest mover was Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish (25-11) rocketed from No. 22 to No. 9 — a 13-spot surge that signals a program finding another gear when it mattered most. TCU (32-6) mirrored that momentum, climbing eight places from No. 14 to No. 6 behind a 32-win campaign that demanded respect.
Not everyone rode the tide upward. Iowa (27-7) tumbled nine spots from No. 7 to No. 16, while West Virginia (28-7) fell from No. 11 to No. 18. Meanwhile, Virginia, Alabama, and Washington entered the rankings at Nos. 19, 24, and 25 — proof that the race's final chapter still had room for new voices.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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