The Wildcats (19-3) ascended to No. 1, displacing the Tar Heels (19-2) after just one week at the summit — a reminder that in this sport, nobody's throne is safe for long.
The real story is the Blue Jays (17-5), who rocketed from No. 8 to No. 3 and announced themselves as a genuine title contender. The Buffaloes (16-4) made an equally loud statement, climbing six spots from No. 11 to No. 5, while the Seawolves (19-3) jumped from No. 10 to No. 6. When the middle of your poll moves like this, the race is wide open.
Not everyone survived the shuffle: the Midshipmen (20-2) tumbled from No. 4 to No. 7 despite a 20-win campaign, and the Fighting Irish (12-6) fell five spots to No. 20. Meanwhile, the Minutewomen (16-3) crashed the party at No. 25, turning the closing stretch into must-watch lacrosse.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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