Carnage at the Top: Arizona Seizes No. 1 Spot as Purdue Tumbles Five Spots to No. 6

The college basketball season’s volatile start delivered its biggest shockwave yet, leading to a dramatic shake-up in the Week 6 Associated Press (AP) Top 25 Poll. After holding the No. 1 spot for three consecutive weeks, the Purdue Boilermakers slid five spots to No. 6 following a massive home upset.

The chaos propelled the Arizona Wildcats into the No. 1 ranking, making them the third team this season to claim the top spot. The results emphasize the intense level of competition and the fragility of a high ranking in the early stages of the 2025-2026 season.

The Collapse: Purdue’s Shocking Fall

Purdue’s downfall was swift and brutal, precipitated by an 81-58 home loss to the surging Iowa State Cyclones.

• The Magnitude of the Loss: The 23-point defeat was reported to be the largest margin of defeat at home for the nation’s No. 1 team in over two decades, signifying not just a loss, but a complete performance breakdown.

• The Result: The upset caused Purdue to drop from No. 1 to No. 6. Coach Matt Painter admitted that Iowa State “stole our spirit,” confirming the emotional and psychological impact of the defeat.

Despite the drop, the Boilermakers remain a consensus Top 10 team, but the loss highlighted potential vulnerabilities—particularly their difficulty handling elite defensive pressure and their reliance on consistent perimeter shooting.

The New No. 1: Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats (8-0) received 33 of the 60 first-place votes to claim the No. 1 ranking for the first time since December 2023.

• Reward for Perfection: Arizona earned the top spot through a combination of their perfect record and a collection of high-quality wins against ranked opponents. Their statement win was a decisive 97-68 romp over then-No. 20 Auburn, which cemented their claim to the top position.

• Offensive Juggernaut: Coach Tommy Lloyd’s squad is considered one of the most balanced and explosive offensive teams in the country, demonstrating the ability to win with pace and firepower.

The New Top 5 and Top 10

The top of the poll is now a highly competitive battleground, with every single team seeing movement except for one:

Rank	Team	Record (AP)	Change from Last Week	Key Rationale
1	Arizona Wildcats	8-0	$\uparrow 1$	Perfect record, dominant win over Auburn.
2	Michigan Wolverines	9-0	$\uparrow 1$	Undefeated and collecting significant wins (UCLA, UConn, Florida). Earned 19 first-place votes.
3	Duke Blue Devils	10-0	$\uparrow 1$	Perfect record, strong defensive identity. Received 7 first-place votes.
4	Iowa State Cyclones	9-0	$\uparrow 6$	Massive jump after dismantling the No. 1 team on the road. Received 1 first-place vote.
5	UConn Huskies	9-1	$-$	Held steady after an important road win over Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse.
6	Purdue Boilermakers	8-1	$\downarrow 5$	Fell outside the Top 5 following the blowout loss to Iowa State.
7	Houston Cougars	8-1	$\uparrow 1$	Continues to win with elite defense and physical play.
8	Gonzaga Bulldogs	9-1	$\uparrow 3$	Strong week, including a lopsided win over Kentucky.
9	Michigan State Spartans	8-1	$\downarrow 1$	Solidifies status as a Big Ten contender.
10	BYU Cougars	8-1	$\downarrow 1$	Rounded out the top 10 after a strong non-conference slate.

Significant Poll Movers

• Iowa State Cyclones ($\uparrow 6$ to No. 4): The biggest riser, as voters rewarded their quality road win against the former No. 1 team, placing them in the Top 5 for the first time this season.

• Arkansas Razorbacks ($\uparrow 8$ to No. 17): The largest jump in the poll, reflecting two key wins, including one over a previously ranked Louisville squad.

• Tennessee Volunteers ($\downarrow 7$ to No. 20): The biggest faller after Purdue, reflecting two tough losses to Syracuse and Illinois.

• Nebraska Cornhuskers (New at No. 23): Made their poll debut after achieving a 9-0 record for only the third time in school history.

The lack of consistent favorites means the race for No. 1 will be intense, with three different teams earning No. 1 votes this week and several undefeated squads ready to pounce on the slightest mistake.

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Would you like a more detailed breakdown of the Iowa State Cyclones and what made their upset victory over Purdue so dominant?