Sports
AP men’s college basketball Top 25 poll breakdown
The newest AP Top 25 poll is out, featuring all three remaining unbeaten teams for the first time this season: Arizona (No. 1), Nebraska (No. 7) and Miami (Ohio) (No. 25). The RedHawks are ranked for the first time in 27 years.
The Wildcats are the unanimous No. 1 for the first time this season, receiving all 61 votes. UConn, Michigan, Purdue and Duke round out the top five, with Iowa State falling to No. 9 after two consecutive losses this past week. Michigan State replaces Vanderbilt as the final team in the top 10 after the Commodores also lost both games this past week.
North Carolina fell the furthest (eight spots), followed by the Cyclones (seven), Commodores (five) and Louisville and Georgia (three each). Tennessee, Utah State and Seton Hall dropped out and were replaced by Kansas, Saint Louis and the RedHawks.
Clemson saw the biggest rise in the rankings (four spots), with Texas Tech and Florida each climbing three spots.
Let’s take a look at the full Week 11 rankings and what’s next for each team.
All times Eastern. All stats courtesy of ESPN Research unless otherwise noted.
Previous polls: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 9 | Week 10
Previous ranking: 1
2025-26 record: 18-0
Stat to know: The Wildcats have trailed for just 11:57 total in conference play this season.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Cincinnati, 9 p.m., FSI
Previous ranking: 3
2025-26 record: 18-1
Stat to know: This is the Huskies’ seventh season starting 18-1 or better since 1980. The last time was 2008-09, when they made the Final Four.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Villanova, 12:30 p.m., Fox
Previous ranking: 4
2025-26 record: 16-1
Stat to know: Michigan has won nine straight games on the road or at neutral sites, its second-longest win streak in the past 35 years. The Wolverines are one of six teams to remain undefeated away from home this season, along with Arizona, Nebraska, Miami (Ohio), Purdue and UConn.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Indiana, 7 p.m., Peacock
Previous ranking: 5
2025-26 record: 17-1
Stat to know: Purdue has won 17 straight games against unranked opponents, its longest streak since 1986-87, when it won 20 in a row.
What’s next: Tuesday @ UCLA, 10 p.m., Peacock
Previous ranking: 6
2025-26 record: 17-1
Stat to know: Cameron Boozer now has two 30-point double-doubles this season, the most by a Duke freshman since Zion Williamson had four during the 2018-19 season. Boozer is also up to three career 30-point games; his father, Carlos, had two across his three seasons in Durham.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Wake Forest, 5:45 p.m., The CW Network
Previous ranking: 7
2025-26 record: 17-1
Stat to know: The Cougars are 43-1 (.977) at home across the past three seasons, the best home winning percentage among major conference teams over that span.
What’s next: Saturday @ Texas Tech, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 8
2025-26 record: 18-0
Stat to know: The Cornhuskers are 7-0 in conference play for the first time since 1965-66.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Washington, 9 p.m., BTN
Previous ranking: 9
2025-26 record: 19-1
Stat to know: Gonzaga has won 11 games by 20 or more points this season, tying with Arizona and Saint Louis for most such wins in Division I.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Pepperdine, 9 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 2
2025-26 record: 16-2
Stat to know: Iowa State is the first team in Big 12 history to start 15-0 or better before losing consecutive games to unranked opponents. The Cyclones have now lost as an AP top-15 team to unranked Cincinnati in football, women’s basketball and men’s basketball this season.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. UCF, 7 p.m., CBSSN
Previous ranking: 12
2025-26 record: 16-2
Stat to know: Michigan State has 18 consecutive wins against unranked opponents, its longest such win streak since a 23-game run between 2012-13 and 2013-14.
What’s next: Tuesday @ Oregon, 9 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 13
2025-26 record: 15-3
Stat to know: Illinois has won five consecutive games against conference opponents, its longest such streak since it won six straight from Dec. 3, 2021, to Jan. 14, 2022.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Maryland, 7 p.m., BTN
Previous ranking: 15
2025-26 record: 14-4
Stat to know: JT Toppin has the longest active double-double streak in D-I with seven straight. His 43 career double-doubles are the second most among active players (Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg has 48).
What’s next: Tuesday @ Baylor, 9 p.m., Peacock
Previous ranking: 11
2025-26 record: 16-2
Stat to know: BYU is winless against just two Big 12 schools since joining the league in 2023-24: Texas Tech (0-4) and Houston (0-2).
What’s next: Saturday vs. Utah, 5:30 p.m., Fox
Previous ranking: 16
2025-26 record: 16-2
Stat to know: Virginia has won at least 16 of its first 18 games of the season for the first time since it started 17-1 in 2018-19 (when it won the national title).
What’s next: Saturday vs. North Carolina, 2 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 10
2025-26 record: 16-2
Stat to know: Vanderbilt is the third SEC program over the past 45 seasons to start 15-0 or better and then lose consecutive games. The Commodores have done it twice in that span (also in 2007-08).
What’s next: Tuesday @ Arkansas, 9 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 19
2025-26 record: 13-5
Stat to know: This is the first time in program history that Florida has scored 90-plus points in four straight games against SEC opponents.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. LSU, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 18
2025-26 record: 13-5
Stat to know: Alabama has now won three games after trailing by double digits at halftime since Nate Oats took over in the 2019-20 season. (The Tide have lost 15 such games in that span as well.)
What’s next: Saturday vs. Tennessee, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 22
2025-26 record: 16-3
Stat to know: Clemson is now 6-0 in conference play, its second-best start since joining the ACC.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. NC State, 7 p.m., ACCN
Previous ranking: Unranked
2025-26 record: 13-5
Stat to know: Darryn Peterson is averaging 0.798 points per minute, the second most in Big 12 history (minimum five games and 20 minutes played per team game) behind Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (0.832 in 2007-08). Peterson also averages the third-most points per minute of any major conference player in the past 30 seasons, after Marquette’s Markus Howard (0.837 in 2019-20) and Beasley. Peterson trails only Tarleton’s Dior Johnson for most points per minute in D-I this season (0.967).
What’s next: Tuesday @ Colorado, 11 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 17
2025-26 record: 13-5
Stat to know: Darius Acuff Jr. has scored in double figures in 18 straight games. That’s the fourth-longest such streak by an SEC freshman to start their career over the past 20 seasons, behind Vanderbilt’s AJ Ogilvy (2007-08), Auburn’s Mustapha Heron (2016-17) and Kentucky’s Malik Monk (2016-17).
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Vanderbilt, 9 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: 21
2025-26 record: 15-3
Stat to know: Georgia has won two of its past three games against AP-ranked opponents after losing the previous eight.
What’s next: Tuesday @ Missouri, 9 p.m., SEC Network
Previous ranking: 14
2025-26 record: 14-4
Stat to know: North Carolina is 1-6 in games in the Pacific Time Zone in five seasons under Hubert Davis.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Notre Dame, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 20
2025-26 record: 13-5
Stat to know: Louisville has had five 100-point games this season, tying for the second-most such games within a season in program history.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m., The CW Network
Previous ranking: Unranked
2025-26 record: 17-1
Stat to know: The Billikens have won 11 straight games since losing to Stanford in Palm Springs, California, in November.
What’s next: Tuesday @ Duquesne, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: Unranked
2025-26 record: 19-0
Stat to know: Miami (Ohio) is now tied for the second-longest single-season win streak in MAC history. The only team with a longer streak was 2001-02 Kent State, which featured future Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates.
What’s next: Tuesday @ Kent State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
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The most pressure-packed scoring opportunity in soccer might be the one where no one is defending: the penalty kick.
A goal is almost certain, so long as you keep a cool head and beat the goalkeeper. Simple enough, right?
But what exactly is a penalty kick, and how is it awarded? Here’s everything you need to know about the penalty kick ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
What Is A Penalty Kick?
A penalty kick — or “PK” — is a one-on-one duel between a field player and a goalkeeper in which the field player tries to score a direct kick from the penalty spot.
How Is A Penalty Kick Awarded?
A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a foul — tripping, pushing or a handball — inside the penalty area, which is a large 18-yard box that extends from the goal line into the field of play. The total width of the box is 44 yards.
A penalty can be awarded in the run of play or during a Video Assistant Referee check.
Who Takes The Penalty Kick?
The designated penalty taker is usually predetermined based on a player’s proven ability to score, from the penalty spot or otherwise. For example, Harry Kane, the active leading goalscorer for England, is the designated penalty taker for the Three Lions.
How Far Is The Penalty Spot?
The penalty is 12 yards from the center of the goal line, meaning that there are just 12 yards that separate the penalty taker and the goalkeeper at the time of a penalty kick.
What Are The Rules For The Penalty Taker?
The penalty taker is given freedom to confuse the goalkeeper during their run-up to the kick so long as:
- The penalty taker doesn’t attempt a fake kick or a “feint” while attempting to strike the ball AND
- The penalty doesn’t make contact with the ball more than once during their attempt.
If a penalty taker participates in illegal feinting, they will be cautioned and an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.
If a penalty taker makes contact with the ball more than once during their attempt and the attempt is successful, the penalty kick will be retaken. If it isn’t, it will be recorded as a miss and play will resume.
What Are The Rules For The Goalkeeper?
The goalkeeper must follow three key rules during a penalty kick: face the kicker, stay between the goalposts and keep at least one foot on or over the goal line until the kick.
If a goalkeeper leaves their line during a penalty attempt and the attempt is unsuccessful, it will be retaken. If the attempt is successful, it will result in a goal.
Additionally, goalkeepers may not touch the goalposts, crossbar or netting as an intimidation tactic. Trash-talking is also not permitted.
How Often Are Penalty Kicks Awarded?
There were 23 penalty kicks awarded at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which was six fewer than in 2018. Argentina led all countries in penalty attempts with five, and its designated penalty taker, Lionel Messi, converted all five attempts.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled ticketing information for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, set to take place at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
According to the cricket board, E-Tickets for the high-stakes fixture can be purchased from tonight, with prices for all enclosures of the aforementioned venue set at Rs500.
Furthermore, the physical tickets will be available for sale from Tuesday morning and can be bought at the TCS Express Centre at the China Ground situated opposite the venue.
The PCB further advised fans with tickets to reach the stadium “well before the start of play” to avoid any inconvenience. Notably, the coin toss for the Qualifier will take place at 6:30pm as per the Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the ticket details for the remaining two playoffs, set to be played in Lahore, will be announced in due course.
The cricket board announced the ticketing details hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoffs of the ongoing PSL 11.
Taking to X, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi said he had a meeting with the premier, during which the cricket board secured his approval for allowing fans in the stadia for the upcoming playoffs of the eight-team tournament.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on the microblogging website.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled ticketing information for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, set to take place at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
According to the cricket board, E-Tickets for the high-stakes fixture can be purchased from tonight, with prices for all enclosures of the aforementioned venue set at Rs500.
Furthermore, the physical tickets will be available for sale from Tuesday morning and can be bought at the TCS Express Centre at the China Ground situated opposite the venue.
The PCB further advised fans with tickets to reach the stadium “well before the start of play” to avoid any inconvenience. Notably, the coin toss for the Qualifier will take place at 6:30pm as per the Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the ticket details for the remaining two playoffs, set to be played in Lahore, will be announced in due course.
The cricket board announced the ticketing details hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoffs of the ongoing PSL 11.
Taking to X, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi said he had a meeting with the premier, during which the cricket board secured his approval for allowing fans in the stadia for the upcoming playoffs of the eight-team tournament.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on the microblogging website.
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