The latest NCAA NET rankings through Feb. 15 gave us more clarity than chaos. Instead of dramatic swings, what we saw was separation. The teams at the top are building complete resumes with Quad 1 wins and consistency, while others are hanging around because they’ve avoided bad losses. With March getting closer, these numbers are starting to look less like projections and more like a preview of the bracket.
No. 1 still belongs to the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan is 24-1 and checks every box the committee values. The Wolverines are 8-0 in Quad 1 games and 12-1 across the top two quadrants. That combination is rare. Plenty of teams can stack wins. Few can do it against elite competition and still dominate lower tiers. Michigan has done both, which is why they remain the team everyone else is chasing.
Blue blood chase pack: Duke Blue Devils and Arizona Wildcats
Duke at No. 2 and Arizona at No. 3 both have resumes that look like protected seeds. Duke’s 8-1 Quad 1 record stands out immediately. Arizona’s strength is balance. The Wildcats are 13-1 in Quad 1 and 2 games combined, meaning they rarely slip when facing real competition. Both teams have proven they can win big games, and that’s the currency that matters most right now.
Houston keeps stacking evidence
No. 4 Houston is the definition of steady. The Cougars are undefeated outside Quad 1 and continue to pile up quality wins without any bad losses dragging them down. Their profile doesn’t scream flashy, but it screams reliable. When the selection committee evaluates teams, reliability travels far.
Big Ten depth is shaping the national picture
The Big Ten has become a resume factory. Five teams sit inside the top 15: Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Nebraska, and Michigan State. Illinois has six Quad 1 wins. Purdue has seven. Nebraska has just three losses total. Every night in that conference gives teams a chance to improve their profile, and several have taken advantage.
Even the middle tier is dangerous. Iowa, Indiana, UCLA, and Ohio State are all still within range of meaningful movement. The league doesn’t just have contenders. It has volume.
Big 12 schedules are doing half the work
The Big 12 again looks like a gauntlet. Six teams are in the top 20, and most of them have battle-tested resumes because they have to. Iowa State is a good example. The Cyclones are only 4-3 in Quad 1 games, but they’re unbeaten in every other quadrant. Kansas sits top 15 despite a .500 Quad 1 record because they simply haven’t taken bad losses.
When every conference game is tough, your resume builds itself.
SEC profiles vary wildly
The SEC has numbers, but not uniform resumes. Florida and Vanderbilt have strong Quad 1 totals. Alabama and Tennessee are still hovering because they’re closer to average against top competition. Auburn might be the strangest case. At 14-11 they don’t look impressive on paper, yet their schedule strength keeps them in the top 35.
The lesson is simple: the NET rewards difficulty almost as much as wins.
Mid-major resumes forcing attention
Saint Louis and Utah State continue to demand respect. Saint Louis is 23-1 with almost no blemishes anywhere on its sheet. Utah State owns one of the best combined Quad 1 and 2 records outside the power leagues. Teams like these often end up underseeded, which makes them dangerous once the tournament starts.
The strangest profile in the rankings
Miami (OH) is 22-0 and still outside the top 50. That’s not punishment. It’s math. The RedHawks simply haven’t had chances to beat top-tier opponents yet. The system isn’t saying they’re bad. It’s saying they’re untested. That distinction matters a lot this time of year.
Bubble watch shifting fast
The most volatile range right now sits between the high 30s and mid 40s:
- Texas (#37)
- Ohio State (#38)
- UCLA (#40)
- San Diego State (#41)
- Santa Clara (#42)
- Texas A&M (#43)
These teams have solid overall records, but their Quad 1 results are thin. One signature win could push them safely in. One bad loss could send them sliding.
Top 25 NET rankings (through Feb. 15)
Final takeaway:
1. Michigan Wolverines (24-1)
2. Duke Blue Devils (23-2)
3. Arizona Wildcats (23-2)
4. Houston Cougars (23-2)
5. Illinois Fighting Illini (21-5)
6. Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-2)
7. Purdue Boilermakers (21-4)
8. Iowa State Cyclones (22-3)
9. Florida Gators (19-6)
10. UConn Huskies (24-2)
11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-3)
12. Louisville Cardinals (19-6)
13. Vanderbilt Commodores (21-4)
14. Kansas Jayhawks (19-6)
15. Michigan State Spartans (20-5)
16. Texas Tech Red Raiders (19-6)
17. Saint Louis Billikens (23-1)
18. Arkansas Razorbacks (19-6)
19. Virginia Cavaliers (22-3)
20. BYU Cougars (19-6)
21. Alabama Crimson Tide (18-7)
22. Tennessee Volunteers (18-7)
23. Utah State Aggies (21-3)
24. St. John’s Red Storm (20-5)
25. North Carolina Tar Heels (20-5)
At this stage of the season, resumes matter more than rankings. Teams with strong Quad 1 wins and clean loss columns are separating themselves. Everyone else is running out of time to prove they belong.