The Wildcats (19-3) ascended to No. 1, overtaking the Tar Heels (19-2), who slip to second despite just two losses on the year — a reminder that in this race, how you finish matters more than where you started.
The Blue Jays (17-5) authored the poll's boldest move, rocketing from No. 8 to No. 3 and announcing themselves as a genuine title contender. Not far behind, the Buffaloes (16-4) climbed six spots from No. 11 to No. 5, while the Seawolves (19-3) jumped four slots to No. 6, giving the middle of the top 10 a completely reshaped complexion from a week ago.
Down at No. 25, the Minutewomen (16-3) crashed the party from outside the rankings — a 16-win team that the poll could no longer ignore. Meanwhile, the Midshipmen (20-2) tumbled from No. 4 to No. 7 despite crossing the 20-win threshold, proving that depth of schedule weighs heavy when the margins are this thin.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
More from the newsroom