The Bruins (37-1) ascended to No. 1 after a dominant season, leapfrogging the Huskies (38-1), who dropped from the top spot to No. 3 despite carrying the poll's best record. The Gamecocks (36-4) climbed two spots to No. 2, setting up a familiar power trio at the summit.
The Horned Frogs (32-6) authored the poll's biggest rise, surging eight spots from No. 14 to No. 6, while the Fighting Irish (25-11) made a staggering 13-spot jump from No. 22 to No. 9 — a climb that screams March momentum. The Blue Devils (27-9) also cracked the top five, moving up three places.
Not everyone rode the wave. The Hawkeyes (27-7) suffered the steepest fall, plunging nine spots from No. 7 to No. 16. The Tigers (29-6) and Commodores (29-5) each slid four positions, and three newcomers — the Cavaliers, Crimson Tide, and Huskies — entered the final ranking at Nos. 19, 24, and 25, a reminder that the race for next season starts now.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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