With games played through Sunday, January 25, the NCAA NET rankings are beginning to show a clearer separation between national title contenders and teams still fighting to stabilize their resume. Conference play is now the primary driver of movement, and the combination of Quad 1 wins, home-court dominance, and avoidance of bad losses is shaping the entire bracket picture.
The NET is not a predictive poll. It is a resume-based evaluation tool used directly by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, factoring in efficiency, strength of schedule, game location, and results against tournament-caliber opponents.
As January winds down, teams that have mixed elite records with meaningful wins are positioning themselves for top seeds, while others are seeing how thin the margin can be with even one poor week.
Arizona Remains the NET Standard Bearer
Arizona Wildcats continue to sit atop the NET rankings at No. 1 with a spotless 20–0 record. The Wildcats are undefeated at home (12–0), perfect in Big 12 play (8–0), and own eight Quad 1 wins with zero damaging losses on their resume. The Wildcats have a massive test Monday at BYU.
Arizona’s most recent win over West Virginia further reinforced that position, as they handled conference business again over the weekend, maintaining one of the strongest efficiency profiles in the country. Few teams combine offensive consistency, defensive discipline, and location-adjusted success as cleanly as the Wildcats right now.
Michigan and Nebraska Power the Big Ten Surge
Big Ten Conference continues to be one of the deepest leagues in the country, and it shows near the top of the NET.
Michigan Wolverines remain second overall at 18–1 and undefeated in Quad 1. Michigan’s resume is built on balance: a 9–1 home record, multiple Quad 1 wins, and consistent road competitiveness. Their most recent victory over Ohio State kept them firmly entrenched as a potential No. 1 seed.
Nebraska has emerged as one of the season’s biggest stories. The Cornhuskers are 20–0 and ranked fifth in the NET, pairing a perfect 12–0 home record with growing conference credibility. While Nebraska still trails some peers in Quad 1 volume, the absence of bad losses has allowed their resume to hold strong.
Michigan State (No. 9), Purdue (No. 10), and Illinois (No. 6) round out an impressive cluster that gives the Big Ten unmatched depth inside the top 10.
Duke Anchors the ACC with High-End Wins
Duke Blue Devils check in at No. 3 with an 18–1 record and an impressive collection of Quad 1 wins in the country. Duke is 9–0 at home and has stacked quality victories that continue to anchor its resume, even as other ACC teams shuffle behind them.
Virginia (No. 14) and Louisville (No. 17) have quietly built strong profiles, particularly at home, while North Carolina (No. 23) remains inside the top 25 despite recent movement. Duke’s most recent blowout win over Wake Forest displayed why the Blue Devils remain one of the safest bets for a protected seed.
Gonzaga Leads a Steady WCC at the Top
Gonzaga Bulldogs sit fourth in the NET at 21–1, supported by an 11–0 home record and strong efficiency numbers on both ends. Gonzaga’s latest win kept them steady from last week, but more importantly, avoided any resume damage as conference play intensifies.
Saint Mary’s (No. 30) and Santa Clara (No. 45) continue to give the West Coast Conference enough substance to provide Gonzaga with meaningful evaluation opportunities.
Big 12: No Easy Nights, No Weak Résumés
Big 12 Conference remains relentless from top to bottom. Arizona, Iowa State (No. 7), Houston (No. 11), BYU (No. 12), Kansas (No. 15), and Texas Tech (No. 18) all sit inside the top 20.
Houston’s recent dominant home win over Arizona State reinforced its perfect 10–0 home mark, while BYU continues to climb with consistent league wins and zero bad losses. Kansas, despite five losses, maintains a strong NET position due to schedule strength and quality wins that keep its resume tournament-proof.
Quad 1 Wins and Home Floors Define the Gap
As January closes, the formula is becoming clear. Teams like Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and Purdue are separating themselves by stacking Quad 1 wins while protecting home court. Others, including Nebraska and Saint Louis, rely heavily on perfect or near-perfect home records to compensate for fewer top-tier opportunities.
Home dominance is providing insulation, but February road games will increasingly determine seeding ceilings. Teams hovering between No. 20 and No. 40 in the NET are often just one road win or one bad loss away from major movement.
Top 25 NCAA NET Rankings (Through Games of January 25)
- Arizona Wildcats (20–0)
- Michigan Wolverines (18–1)
- Duke Blue Devils (18–1)
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (21–1)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (20–0)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (17–3)
- Iowa State Cyclones (18–2)
- UConn Huskies (19–1)
- Michigan State Spartans (18–2)
- Purdue Boilermakers (17–3)
- Houston Cougars (17–2)
- BYU Cougars (17–2)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (17–3)
- Virginia Cavaliers (16–3)
- Kansas Jayhawks (15–5)
- Florida Gators (14–6)
- Louisville Cardinals (14–5)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (16–4)
- Saint Louis Billikens (18–1)
- Arkansas Razorbacks (15–5)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (14–5)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (13–6)
- North Carolina Tar Heels (16–4)
- Tennessee Volunteers (13–6)
- St. John's Red Storm (15–5)
Utah State, North Carolina State, Kentucky, Auburn and Saint Mary's round out the Top 30. The Gaels t 30 are the only team in the top 30 without a Quad 1 win.