The much-anticipated start of the college basketball season didn't disappoint, as the top-10 teams in the preseason AP Top 25 combined for a strong 16-3 record during their opening week. Notably, the three losses suffered by the highly ranked teams—in which No. 4 Houston fell to No. 5 Auburn and No. 8 Baylor and No. 1 North Carolina were both taken down by No. 4 Gonzaga—led to a significant reshuffling in the first in-season AP Top 25 poll of the year.

The biggest headline from the week comes from Auburn's rise from No. 11 to No. 5 in the rankings following a gripping 74-69 victory over Houston, who was ranked No. 4 at the time. This win was especially noteworthy as the Tigers faced unexpected turbulence leading up to the game, which included reports of an in-flight altercation. Earlier, Auburn had launched its season with a commanding 94-43 win over Vermont, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, Gonzaga capitalized on Houston’s defeat, moving up two spots to No. 4 after annihilating then-No. 8 Baylor, 101-63, in their opener, followed by another convincing win against Arizona State. The top three teams remained unchanged: No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Alabama, and No. 3 UConn all maintained perfect records after the first week, with Kansas securing 44 out of 62 first-place votes.

In other notable changes, Duke and Arizona climbed to No. 6 and No. 9, respectively. Following a disappointing performance that resulted in a road loss to Kansas, North Carolina dropped one spot to No. 10.

This week also saw the re-entry of Ohio State and St. John's into the Top 25, ranked at No. 21 and No. 22. This marks Ohio State's first appearance in the rankings since January 2023, while St. John's is making its return to the polls for the first time since January 2019.

AP Top 25 Rankings

(As of the latest poll - Records reflect games played through Sunday)

1. Kansas (44 votes) - 2-0

2. Alabama (6 votes) - 2-0

3. UConn (7 votes) - 2-0

4. Gonzaga (3 votes) - 2-0

5. Auburn (2 votes) - 2-0

6. Duke - 2-0

7. Iowa State - 1-0

8. Houston - 1-1

9. Arizona - 2-0

10. North Carolina - 1-1

11. Tennessee - 2-0

12. Baylor - 1-1

13. Purdue - 2-0

14. Creighton - 2-0

15. Marquette - 2-0

16. Indiana - 2-0

17. Cincinnati - 2-0

18. Arkansas - 1-1

19. Kentucky - 2-0

20. Florida - 2-0

21. Ohio State - 1-0

22. St. John’s - 2-0

23. Texas A&M - 1-1

24. Rutgers - 1-0

25. Ole Miss - 2-0

*Also receiving votes: Illinois, Texas Tech, Wake Forest, Xavier, Texas, Michigan State, BYU, Kansas State, UCF, Mississippi State, New Mexico, Oregon, North Florida, Miami, Clemson, VCU, Memphis, Wisconsin, Grand Canyon, Providence, Maryland, Austin Peay, Arizona State, South Dakota State, Michigan, Columbia, and Dayton.*

Despite three teams in the Big 12 falling in the rankings, the conference continues to showcase its strength. The top spot is held by Kansas, along with Iowa State and Houston representing the league well within the top ten. No other major conference managed to place more than two teams in that bracket.

Meanwhile, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) demonstrated its growing prominence with eight teams featuring in the rankings, surpassing all other conferences. The Big 12 follows closely with six ranked teams, while the Big East and Big Ten each secure four spots. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) lags behind with only two.

One exciting subplot emerging in the SEC involves John Calipari, former Kentucky coach now leading Arkansas. The clash between these two storied programs adds another layer to the narrative this season. Arkansas suffered a minor setback, dropping two spots to No. 18, yet they remain one position above Kentucky, which jumped four places after solid victories. The much-anticipated matchup against Duke in the Champions Classic promises to be a highlight of the upcoming week, further captivating fans and analysts alike.

With dynamics shifting rapidly in the college basketball landscape, fans should brace themselves for a thrilling and unpredictable season ahead!