With Christmas less than a week away, the list of undefeated teams in men’s college basketball has narrowed to just seven. Each has navigated early-season tests in different ways, whether through elite non-conference wins or consistent domination against lighter schedules. The question now becomes simple: which of these teams is most likely to suffer its first loss as conference play ramps up? Here is a closer look at the remaining unbeatens and what lies ahead.
Arizona Wildcats (9-0)
Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats have built arguably the strongest résumé in the country. Arizona owns wins over Florida, UCLA, UConn, Auburn, and Alabama, immediately establishing itself as a national title contender. One of only two unbeaten teams in the Big 12, Arizona closes the calendar year with home games against San Diego State, Bethune-Cookman, and South Dakota State. Conference play opens with a road trip to Utah, followed by games against Kansas State and at TCU. With this level of consistency, Arizona looks well-positioned to stay unbeaten into January.
Michigan Wolverines (10-0)
Dusty May’s first season in Ann Arbor could not be off to a better start. Michigan has stacked impressive wins over Wake Forest, TCU, Auburn, Gonzaga, and Villanova, while also starting conference play 2-0 with two 100-point performances. The Wolverines have three straight home games against La Salle, McNeese State, and USC before traveling to Penn State and hosting Wisconsin. If the NCAA Tournament started today, Michigan would be firmly in the conversation for a top seed.
Duke Blue Devils (10-0)
After losing most of their scoring from last season’s Final Four run, Duke has reloaded seamlessly under Jon Scheyer. The Blue Devils are unbeaten with wins over Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Florida, and Michigan State, standing alone atop the ACC. A high-profile matchup with Texas Tech looms before conference play begins at home against Georgia Tech, followed by road trips to Florida State and Louisville. Duke’s upcoming stretch will provide a strong test of its depth.
Iowa State Cyclones (11-0)
Iowa State remains perfect despite a schedule that has mixed quality competition with lighter opponents. The Cyclones have picked up notable wins over Creighton, St. John’s, Syracuse, Iowa, and Purdue, while averaging more than 90 points per game. They close the year at home against Long Beach State and Houston Christian before opening conference play against West Virginia. Iowa State’s offense gives it a high floor, even as the competition stiffens.
Vanderbilt Commodores (10-0)
Vanderbilt has been one of the season’s biggest surprises. The Commodores survived a hard-fought win over Memphis and also own victories over VCU, Saint Mary’s, and SMU. Scoring nearly 94 points per game, Vanderbilt faces a significant road test at Wake Forest on Sunday. After hosting New Haven, SEC play begins at South Carolina, followed by a home date with Alabama on January 7. That stretch could determine how long this unbeaten run lasts.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0)
Fred Hoiberg’s Cornhuskers have quietly put together one of the nation’s most impressive starts. Nebraska has wins over Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas State, and Creighton, along with conference victories against Wisconsin and Illinois. The Cornhuskers host North Dakota and New Hampshire before a major test against Michigan State on January 2. That matchup may be Nebraska’s toughest challenge to date.
Miami (OH) RedHawks (11-0)
The final unbeaten belongs to Miami (OH), which has dominated early MAC play. The RedHawks are coming off a seven-point win over Wright State, highlighted by Brant Byers’ 27-point performance. While their schedule has not been particularly demanding, a road win at UNC Asheville stands out. Miami opens MAC play at Ball State, then faces Milligan before traveling to Bowling Green on December 30. A home game against Akron on January 3 could be the first real danger spot.
Big Time Basketball Upcoming
Remaining unbeaten this deep into December is no small feat, but history suggests the margin for error only shrinks from here. With conference play beginning and tougher road environments ahead, several of these teams are approaching their most challenging stretch of the season. Whether it is a surprise upset or a big time matchup, the countdown is on to see which undefeated team falls next.