The Wildcats (19-3) leapfrogged the Tar Heels (19-2) to claim the No. 1 spot, completing a climb from No. 2 and unseating a North Carolina squad that held the position just a week ago. The swap at the summit tells you everything about how thin the margin is at the top — two programs separated by one loss and one ranking, with the entire postseason still ahead.
The real earthquake sits further down. The Buffaloes (16-4) rocketed from No. 11 to No. 5, the biggest jump in the poll, while the Blue Jays (17-5) surged five spots from No. 8 to No. 3. Colorado's rise reshapes the middle of the top tier and signals that the race isn't a two-team conversation anymore.
At the bottom, the Minutewomen (16-3) crashed the party at No. 25 after sitting outside the poll entirely, while the Fighting Irish (12-6) tumbled five spots from No. 15 to No. 20 — the steepest fall of the week. May is going to be a ride.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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