Two weeks into the season and the AP Top 25 already feels like it has been through a month of twists. Purdue is back on top. Houston slid but barely. Louisville is suddenly knocking on the door of the elite. Illinois looks locked in. And a handful of teams that started the year with big expectations are already trying to steady the ship.
Nothing is settled in November, but this week’s Associated Press poll gives fans plenty to chew on. It also tells us something that college basketball fans know by heart. Nobody is safe in November, and every strong night or ugly loss gets magnified.
Let’s break down what really happened in this week’s rankings.
Purdue Makes a Statement When It Counts
The voters sent a clear message. Win on the road at Alabama and you will be rewarded. Purdue picked up 44 first-place votes after a week that showed exactly why expectations were so high coming into the season. Their physicality showed up. Their half court execution looked polished. Their poise on the road stood out.
Matt Painter also celebrated his 500th career win, and there is no question his team already looks like one of the most complete groups in the country. For now, they are the team everyone else is chasing again.
Houston Slides One Spot but Still Looks Strong
Houston falling from No. 1 to No. 2 is hardly a setback. The Cougars were sharp in two wins and nearly knocked off Auburn in one of the best early season games. They lost a few first-place votes, but they did not lose any trust.
If anything, Houston looks like one of the few teams capable of grinding through entire games without getting rattled. Their identity is set. Their style travels. They are going to be around the top all year.
UConn Survives a Thriller and Stays in the Fight
UConn’s win over BYU came down to the wire, and it may have saved their top-three spot. The Huskies still earned three first-place votes and now step into a brutal stretch that includes Arizona, Illinois and Kansas.
Fans will quickly learn what this team is made of. The skill is there. The depth is there. The question is whether they can survive one heavyweight bout after another without slipping.
Arizona Pushes Ahead While Duke Pauses
Arizona moved to No. 4 after beating UCLA. Duke dipped to No. 5 but still earned a first place vote, which says a lot about how respected this roster is.
Both of these teams feel like groups that will look better in January than they do right now. Their showdown games coming up will give fans some true measuring sticks.
Louisville Sends a Shockwave Through the Rankings
A win over Kentucky gets attention no matter the year, and Louisville’s jump from No. 12 to No. 6 proves it. Louisville played with confidence and fire, and the offense clicked in a way that makes you think this might be more than a nice week.
The Cardinals have not had consistent national buzz in a while. Now they have everyone peeking over to see whether this is real staying power or just a hot streak. For now, it is absolutely earning respect.
Illinois Climbs with Purpose and Discipline
Illinois also made a six spot jump to No. 8. The Illini look sharper and more mentally tough than they did in recent seasons. They defend with purpose. They share the ball. They attack mismatches.
But their schedule from here will test every inch of their progress. Alabama is next. UConn is coming. Tennessee waits after that. The Big Ten schedule looms. If Illinois survives the next few weeks, then this rise could become something much bigger.
Michigan, BYU, Florida and Others Shuffle Quietly
Michigan dipped one spot to No. 7. BYU moved down two after the tight loss to UConn. Florida stayed at No. 10 despite early turbulence. Alabama and Kentucky each slid three spots, which feels fair based on the inconsistency they showed.
None of these teams are in trouble, but none of them feel quite settled yet either.
Texas Tech and UCLA Feel the Sting
Texas Tech fell four spots. UCLA also dropped four after losing to Arizona, and they may not be done falling if the offense does not pick up.
These are not season defining setbacks, but they do raise questions fans were already asking.
N.C. State Sneaks In, Creighton Slips Out
N.C. State comes in at No. 25 after a strong start. Creighton was the casualty. Outside the rankings, San Diego State looks like the next team in, and Indiana is not far behind.
Georgetown quietly picked up six votes and is unbeaten. That is a story worth keeping an eye on.
The Big Ten and Big 12 Show Their Teeth
The Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC each put six teams in the Top 25. The Big Ten and Big 12 also placed three teams each in the top 10. That is the kind of depth that often foreshadows big seasons.
The ACC has four teams ranked. The Big East has two. The West Coast Conference has one.
A Season Already Filled with Chaos
We have not even reached Thanksgiving tournaments and already the rankings look like they have been shaken every night. That is usually a sign of a season with real depth and real uncertainty. Fans love that. Coaches do not.
There will be more movement next week. And the week after. If this is how November looks, March is going to be unbelievable.
Full AP Top 25 (Week of November 17, 2025)
1. Purdue (44)
2. Houston (12)
3. UConn (2)
4. Arizona (2)
5. Duke (1)
6. Louisville
7. Michigan
8. Illinois
9. BYU
10. Florida
11. Alabama
12. Kentucky
13. Gonzaga
14. St. John’s
15. Texas Tech
16. Tennessee
17. Ohio State
18. Nebraska
19. Missouri
20. Kansas
21. Auburn
22. UCLA
23. Georgetown
24. Kansas State
25. N.C. State