Sports
Men’s AP Top 25 poll reaction: What to know about every team
A full week of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season is in the books, which means it’s time for the first AP Top 25 poll!
Purdue entered the season as the No. 1 team over Houston and Florida.
The Cougars instead have the top spot over the Boilermakers despite receiving 18 fewer first-place votes. The reigning champion Gators fell seven spots to No. 10. Joining the Cougars and Boilermakers in the top 5 are UConn, Duke and Arizona.
The biggest risers from the Oct. 13 preseason poll were Arizona (eight spots to No. 5), Alabama (seven spots to No. 8) and North Carolina (seven spots to No. 18). St. John’s saw the steepest drop of eight spots (to No. 13), followed by the Gators, Arkansas (seven spots to No. 21) and Kansas (six spots to No. 25).
Let’s take a look at the top 25 teams of the first week of 2025-26, how they got there and what’s coming up next for each team.
All times Eastern. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of ESPN Research.
Previous polls: Preseason
Preseason ranking: 2
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: The Cougars’ freshmen made program history early in Saturday’s win over Towson. Kingston Flemings became the first Houston freshman with 20 points on 80% or better shooting from the field in at least 30 seasons. Chris Cenac Jr. became the first Houston freshman with 10-plus rebounds in the first two games of the season in at least 30 seasons.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Oakland, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Preseason ranking: 1
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Purdue hasn’t lost a nonconference game at home since Nov. 2019 against Texas. Braden Smith has 26 points and 20 assists through two games this season; he’s the only Purdue player in the past 20 years to average at least 10 PPG and 10 APG through two games in a season. (He did it last season, too.)
What’s next: Thursday at Alabama, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Preseason ranking: 4
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: UConn defeated UMass Lowell by 63 points, the Huskies’ largest win in a game since December 2005 vs. Morehead State (68). They had a 47-point lead at halftime, the largest lead at the break by any team against a Division I opponent since Pepperdine led Pacific 56-9 in the 2024 WCC tournament.
What’s next: Monday vs. Columbia, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Preseason ranking: 6
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Freshman Cameron Boozer is in rarified air. He’s the fifth Duke freshman to make his college debut with a double-double over the past 30 seasons, following Kyle Filipowski (2022), Jalen Johnson (2020), Marvin Bagley III (2017) and Jay Williams (1999). He’s also the sixth Duke freshman with 25 points and 5 assists in a game in the past 20 seasons, joining Cooper Flagg (three times), Kon Knueppel, Paolo Banchero, RJ Barrett (four times) and Zion Williamson (twice). Boozer and Williamson are the only Duke players in the past 30 seasons with 25 points, 5 assists and 5 offensive rebounds in a game.
What’s next: Tuesday at Army, 7 p.m., CBSSN
Preseason ranking: 13
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Arizona is the first team to beat an AP top-3 opponent in a season opener since 2019 when No. 2 Kentucky beat No. 1 Michigan State and No. 4 Duke beat No. 3 Kansas in the Champions Classic. This is not the first time Arizona has started a season with a win over an AP top-3 team, however. In 2001, the unranked Wildcats took down No. 2 Maryland at Madison Square Garden to set up a meeting the next night with … Florida. (They beat the Gators then, too.)
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Northern Arizona, 9 p.m., ESPN+
Preseason ranking: 7
2025-26 record: 1-0
Stat to know: The Wolverines’ offense was ticking in their season opener: They had the most points (121) by the Wolverines in a game since a 127-96 win over Iowa on March 10, 1990. That was also the most points in a season opener in program history, surpassing a 115-107 win over Bradley in 1986. The Michigan bench had 55 points, the most since scoring 56 points off the bench on March 2, 2002, against Ohio State.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Preseason ranking: 8
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: AJ Dybantsa’s 21 points against Villanova are the fifth-most points in a college debut by the No. 1 player in the SC Next 100 over the past 15 years. The names ahead of him? Duke’s RJ Barrett (33 vs. Kentucky in 2018), Memphis’ James Wiseman (28 vs. South Carolina State in 2019), Duke’s Marvin Bagley III (25 vs. Elon in 2017) and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis (23 vs. Marist in 2011).
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Delaware, 9 p.m., CBSSN
Preseason ranking: 15
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: With the 103-96 win over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden, Alabama is the first team to score 100-plus points on the road against a top-5 team since No. 2 Oklahoma in January 2016 (106 points in a 3OT loss at No. 1 Kansas), and the first to score 100-plus points in regulation against a top-5 team since No. 8 Kansas in Dec. 2001 (105 points at No. 4 Arizona). Its 103 points are also tied for its most points scored against a top-10 ranked team in program history.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Purdue, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Preseason ranking: 9
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Kentucky is 10-0 against nonconference opponents at Rupp Arena under coach Mark Pope.
What’s next: Tuesday at Louisville, 8 p.m., ESPN
Preseason ranking: 3
2025-26 record: 1-1
Stat to know: Florida is the first reigning champion to lose its season opener (to Arizona) since Syracuse in 2003-04, and the fourth reigning champion to start 0-1 in the past 30 seasons. Only one of the previous three returned to the Final Four: Kentucky in 1996-97, though the Wildcats lost to Arizona in the title game. (2003 national champion Syracuse lost in the 2004 Sweet 16, while 1999 national champion UConn lost in the 2000 round of 32.)
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Florida State, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Preseason ranking: 10
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: JT Toppin is a double-double machine. He has four career 30-point double-doubles — all other Texas Tech players have combined for three such double-doubles in the past 20 seasons. He’s also tied with Hunter Dickinson and Trae Young for fourth-most 30-point double-doubles by a Big 12 player in past 20 seasons, after Michael Beasley (13), Kevin Durant (7) and Blake Griffin (6).
What’s next: Tuesday at Illinois, 8:30 p.m., FS1
Preseason ranking: 11
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: The Cardinals are 2-0 to start their season for the first time since 2020-21.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Kentucky, 8 p.m., ESPN
Preseason ranking: 5
2025-26 record: 1-1
Stat to know: With their first loss of the season against Alabama on Saturday, the Red Storm snapped a 12-game win streak at Madison Square Garden; that was their second-longest win streak at the iconic venue in program history, behind a 14-game streak spanning the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons.
What’s next: Saturday vs. William & Mary, 6 p.m., truTV
Preseason ranking: 17
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Illinois beat Florida Gulf Coast 113-70, and Jackson State 113-55. The Fighting Illini have scored 110-plus points in consecutive games for the second time in the AP poll era; they last did it Nov. 23 and Nov. 26, 2019, against Hampton and Lindenwood, respectively.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Texas Tech, 8:30 p.m., FS1
Preseason ranking: 12
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: First-team All-Big Ten preseason pick Donovan Dent had quite the debut in his first Bruins game: 21 points and 9 assists, with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 6 assists coming in the first half alone. — The Associated Press
What’s next: Monday vs. West Georgia, 10 p.m., B1G+
Preseason ranking: 16
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: This is the Cyclones’ fifth straight season starting 2-0; they made the NCAA tournament in each of the past four seasons. This opening week is also the second time in three seasons that they won their first two games by 35 or more points (last done in 2023-24).
What’s next: Monday vs. Mississippi State, 8 p.m., ESPNU
Preseason ranking: 22
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Michigan State has the longest active streak when it comes to defeating top-15 teams, with five straight regular-season victories. The Spartans are now 15-1 in their past 16 home games as a ranked team.
What’s next: Thursday vs. San José State, 6:30 p.m., BTN
Preseason ranking: 25
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Is UNC hoops back? The Tar Heels snapped a five-game losing streak against Kansas, which was tied for their longest active losing streak against any opponent (along with Texas and West Virginia). They also snapped a four-game losing streak in ranked-vs.-ranked matchups, tied for the fifth-longest losing streak in such matchups in the AP poll era (since 1948-49).
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Radford, 7 p.m., ACC Network
Preseason ranking: 21
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Gonzaga has 12 consecutive wins against unranked SEC opponents after defeating Oklahoma 83-68, the longest streak since UConn’s 15 straight from 1989-2011. The Bulldogs’ last loss to an unranked SEC team was Dec. 16, 2006, vs. Georgia.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Creighton, 10 p.m., ESPN
Preseason ranking: 18
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Nate Ament, the No. 4 player in the 2025 SC Next 100, is the first Tennessee freshman with 20 points in a game since Julian Phillips on Nov. 24, 2022.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. North Florida, 7 p.m., SECN+
Preseason ranking: 14
2025-26 record: 1-1
Stat to know: Darius Acuff Jr., the seventh-ranked recruit in the 2025 class, is as advertised: He is the first Arkansas freshman to have 15-plus points and four-plus assists in his first two games of the season in at least 20 seasons. He is also the fourth Arkansas freshman with 15-plus points and four-plus assists in consecutive games in the past 15 seasons, after Boogie Fland (three times), Anthony Black (three times) and Moses Moody.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Central Arkansas, 8 p.m., SECN+
Preseason ranking: 20
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Despite a shaky start to the season under new head coach Steven Pearl, Auburn has added to its nonconference home win tally: 62 straight, dating back to 2016-17. It is the fourth-longest active streak in the SEC as of Nov. 6, following Oklahoma (75), Texas A&M (79) and Missouri (81).
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Wofford, 8 p.m., SECN+
Preseason ranking: 23
2025-26 record: 1-0
Stat to know: Last Monday’s 92-75 win against South Dakota was coach Greg McDermott’s 500th in 25 seasons as a Division I head coach, and the Bluejays’ 16th straight win in an opener. — The Associated Press
What’s next: Tuesday at Gonzaga, 10 p.m., ESPN
Preseason ranking: 24
2025-26 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Wisconsin beat Northern Illinois 97-72 and Campbell 96-64 to open its 2025-26 campaign. The Badgers last scored 95-plus points in consecutive games in 1993 (Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 vs. Milwaukee and Loyola Marymount).
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Ball State, 8:30 p.m., BTN
Preseason ranking: 19
2025-26 record: 1-1
Stat to know: Kansas suffered its first loss to North Carolina under Bill Self (5-1). A bright spot, however, is Darryn Peterson, who had 22 points (8-14 FG, 3-5 3PT) and 2 steals, becoming the first Kansas freshman in at least 30 seasons with consecutive 20-point-plus games to begin a season.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 8 p.m., ESPN+
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Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers’ ace and two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner, is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow that will keep him sidelined for months, manager A.J. Hinch said on Monday.
Skubal isn’t done for the season, but he is expected to be out two to three months following the surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow, ESPN reported.
Hinch called it an “easy process and procedure” while delivering the news, but it’s certainly a blow to the Tigers’ staff and Skubal personally that he is sidelined for months.
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Detroit pitcher Tarik Skubal watches during the Atlanta Braves game on April 29, 2026, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. (Rich Von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)
Skubal’s arm locked up during a bullpen session on Sunday ahead of his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. Now, he will undergo the surgery, with Hinch providing no specific timeline for his return.
Skubal’s last start came in a 4-3 win over the league-leading Atlanta Braves this past Wednesday, where he allowed two runs on five hits across seven innings of work. He struck out seven Braves hitters during his outing.
TIGERS ACE TARIK SKUBAL WINS RECORD-BREAKING $32M IN ARBITRATION: REPORTS
However, in that game, Skubal was spotted rubbing his left arm, leading to Hinch and a Tigers trainer going to the mound to check on the pitcher. Skubal, though, remained in the game after tossing a warm-up pitch, and he went on to pitch seven strong innings.
As a result of Skubal being out, the Tigers recalled Ty Madden to the big leagues. Tyler Holton will also be making the spot start on Monday night, serving as the Tigers’ opener before Hinch needs to get creative with his bullpen.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after giving up a hit against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 14, 2025. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)
Skubal is the latest Tigers starter to be placed on the injured list, joining Casey Mize and Justin Verlander. That leaves Framber Valdez and Jack Flaherty as the only healthy starters at the moment.
For Skubal, the timing isn’t great, especially with impending free agency looming.
Skubal won a record-breaking arbitration case this offseason, where the Tigers were told to pay the left-handed ace $32 million for the 2026 campaign after they proposed a $19 million salary. The victory beat Juan Soto’s arbitration pay by the New York Yankees in 2024 by $1 million.
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers between pitches during the Braves game at Truist Park in Atlanta on April 29, 2026. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
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But, with no long-term deal in place for Skubal, the electric starter is set to be one of the top free agents after the season, unless he and the Tigers don’t figure something out before then. It seems unlikely that will happen at this point.
All teams interested in Skubal will be watching his recovery and eventual return closely. Until then, Hinch and the Tigers will need others to step up in the meantime for the starting rotation.
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Fernando Mendoza skyrocketed to the top of every NFL pundit’s draft board during the 2025 college football season as the Indiana Hoosiers standout won the Heisman Trophy and led the school to a national championship.
Mendoza’s status stayed clean as the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. He will be tasked with returning the franchise back to glory under head coach Klint Kubiak and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is set to serve as Mendoza’s mentor.
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs through a drill during a rookie minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nev., on May 2, 2026. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)
A detractor came out of the woodwork on Monday as an anonymous ACC coach told ESPN that he didn’t believe Mendoza had the “NFL traits.” The coach competed against Mendoza when the quarterback was tossing the pigskin around for the Cal Golden Bears.
“He’s a good decision-maker, but I don’t think he’s got the NFL traits,” the coach told ESPN. “They’re all back-shoulder (throws). That’s not working in the NFL. His receivers made plays to make him look better than he is. In the NFL, those throws are getting picked off.”
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza warms up during a rookie minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nev., on May 2, 2026. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)
Mendoza showed grit and determination with some of the throws he made at Indiana. One that comes to mind is the game-winning touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State.
Cooper made the catch and an incredible toe-tap for the touchdown with 36 seconds left in the game, which kept Indiana’s dream season alive.
Raiders general manager John Spytek said last month he nixed any talk of trading the No. 1 pick because he was sure Mendoza would be their guy.
“I think any coach is excited to work with a big, athletic, talented thrower that is extremely smart and a very driven worker, and that’s been our experience with Fernando,” Spytek said. “That’s a great starting spot for any quarterback.”
It’s the heart that Mendoza showed throughout the season, including in the national title game against the Miami Hurricanes, that made him an attractive prospect for NFL teams.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, attends a news conference at the Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nev., on April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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He had 3,535 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes in his lone season at Indiana.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Team of the Tournament, naming Babar Azam skipper after a title-winning campaign.
The Team of the Tournament comprises three players each from Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen, two apiece from Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, and one player each from Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators.
The selection was made by a five-member panel drawn from the commentary team. The jury also finalised the Emerging Team of the Tournament, recognising the standout young performers of the season.
A total of 44 matches were played from March 26 to May 3 across Lahore and Karachi.
Babar Azam, who lifted his third PSL title as a player and first as captain, finished as the leading run-scorer with 588 runs.
Opening the innings, he also claimed the Hanif Mohammad Cap and equalled the record for most runs in a single PSL season, matching Fakhar Zaman’s tally from 2022.
His campaign featured two centuries in four matches against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United.
Peshawar Zalmi are further represented by Kusal Mendis and Sufyan Moqim. Mendis scored 550 runs, including four half-centuries and a century, while also contributing eight dismissals behind the stumps.
His century came against Karachi Kings at the National Bank Stadium on April 9. Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim took 22 wickets at an average of 14.40 and an economy rate of 7.20, earning both Player of the Tournament and Best Bowler honours.
Hyderabad Kingsmen have three representatives in Usman Khan, Hassan Khan and Hunain Shah. Usman finished fourth among the top run-scorers with 389 runs, including a century and three half-centuries.
Hassan contributed 139 runs at a strike rate of 195 alongside six wickets and strong fielding performances. Hunain Shah impressed with 17 wickets in 10 matches, emerging as a key bowler in the latter stages of the competition.
Lahore Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi also feature in the XI. Fakhar scored 401 runs to finish third overall, while Shaheen claimed 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.86.
Multan Sultans’ Shan Masood is included after scoring 367 runs at an average of 45.87 and a strike rate of 158.18. Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan also makes the side after a strong all-round season, scoring 173 runs and taking 17 wickets, earning the Best All-Rounder of the Tournament award.
Teammate Richard Gleeson is selected for his impactful new-ball performances, finishing with 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.13.
Quetta Gladiators’ Hasan Nawaz has been named as the 12th player after scoring 291 runs.
PSL 11 Team of the Tournament
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) (c), Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars), Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi) (wk), Shan Masood (Multan Sultans), Usman Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen), Shadab Khan (Islamabad United), Hassan Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars), Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen), Sufyan Moqim (Peshawar Zalmi), Richard Gleeson (Islamabad United) and Hasan Nawaz (Quetta Gladiators) (12th player).
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