College Basketball: On3’s Week 5 Top 25

Week four of the college basketball season we got into the meat of “Feast Week” with some spicy early season matchups. There was a lot of movement with highly-ranking early programs like UNC and UConn dropping out of the top 25 entirely.

These are the twenty-five best teams in college basketball, for me, after watching through the first four weeks of games. There is a long way to go in this college basketball season, and if these first few weeks are any indication, a lot of twists and turns are sure to happen along the way.

But for this moment, as we enter the first week of December in the 2024-25 college basketball season, here is On3’s updated Top 25 ranking after week 3.

1. Auburn (7-0)

Auburn currently sits undefeated after running the table in Maui with wins over Iowa State, UNC, and Memphis. Add those three wins to the week one Houston road game and Auburn has the best resume to this point in the season. Led by National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, the Tigers are averaging 86.7 points per game and shooting 52.5 percent from the field as a team. Next up for Auburn is at No. 8 ranked Duke on 12/4.

2. Kansas (7-0)

Kansas now has two impressive big brand wins over Duke and UNC. The Jayhawks have won their games by a combined 118 total points while shooting 52.6 percent from the field as a team this season. All-American candidate Hunter Dickinson is leading the way with 15.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per contest. Kansas’ next game will be against Creighton on 12/4.

3. Iowa State (5-1)

While Iowa State did drop a game in Maui, it was a two-point loss to now No. 1 Auburn. The Cyclones have scored 80 or more points in each of their games this season while averaging 9.7 steals as a team. They are led by senior guard Keshon Gilbert 16.5 points and 5.3 assists per game. Next up for Iowa State is No. 5 ranked Marquette on 12/4.

4. Tennessee (7-0)

Tennessee beat now No. 18 ranked Baylor by 15 points in the Baha Mar title game. The Volunteers have rolled through this season averaging 81.3 points and shooting 38.0 percent from three as a team. Transfer guard Chaz Lanier has led them in scoring in four games so far, including each of their last three. Next up for Tennessee is a match up with Syracuse on 12/3.

5. Marquette (8-0)

Marquette handed No. 9 Purdue their only loss of the season. The Golden Eagles bookended that 18-point win with high major victories over Maryland and Georgia. Currently at 8-0, they are scoring 84.5 points per game and their 12.4 steals per contest leads the country. Next up for Marquette is a matchup with No. 3 Iowa State on 12/4.

6. Kentucky (7-0)

Kentucky is scoring 96.7 points per game while holding opponents to 68.1. The Wildcats are adding 45.0 rebounds and 21.1 assists per contest, both totals are top five nationally. They are playing nine guys 15.4 or more minutes per game and have had four different players lead them in scoring this season. Next up for Kentucky is Clemson on 12/3.

7. Florida (8-0)

Florida has won all of the games they have had on their schedule. That includes high major victories over Wake Forest and Florida State. The Gators have scored 75 or more points in each of their eight games. The backcourt duo of Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin are leading the way, while the team sits fifth nationally collecting 44.6 rebounds per game. Next up for Florida is Virginia in the ACC/SEC Challenge on 12/4.

8. Duke (5-2)

Duke’s two losses came by a combined six points. In both games, against now No. 2 ranked Kansas and now No. 6 ranked Kentucky, the Blue Devils had the ball with a chance to win. Duke currently is KenPom’s No. 1 ranked defense as they are holding opponents to 58.6 points on 35.2 percent shooting from the field. Freshman Cooper Flagg is leading the way in points (15.9), rebounds (8.3), assists (4.1), and blocks (1.3). Next up for Duke is No. 1 ranked Auburn in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

9. Purdue

Purdue’s only loss on the season came in a true road game to now No. 5 ranked Marquette. Since that 18-point loss the Boilermakers have won their next three games by a combined 47 total points including the Rady Children Invitational championship. Trey Kaufman-Renn has led them in scoring the last five games and the team is assisting on 17.9 of 26.3 field goals made per game (68.1%). Next up for Purdue is Penn State on 12/5.

10. Wisconsin (8-0)

Wisconsin is coming off a championship win over now No. 19 ranked Pittsburgh in the Greenbrier Tip-Off. The Badgers are averaging 85.3 points while they are making 20.6 free-throws per game. Transfer John Tonje is averaging 22.9 points, leading the way in five games. Next up for Wisconsin is No. 23 ranked Michigan on 12/3.

College basketball week 5 rankings: teams 11-25

11. Cincinnati (6-0)
W Alabama State (77-59)
Next Game: Villanova (12/3)

12. Gonzaga (7-1)
L West Virginia (86-78), W Indiana (89-73), W Davidson (90-65)
Next Game: No. 6 Kentucky (12/7)

13. Oregon (8-0)
W Texas A&M (80-70), W San Diego State (78-68), W Alabama (83-81)
Next Game: USC (12/4)

14. Alabama (6-2)
W Houston (85-80), W Rutgers (95-90), L Oregon (83-81)
Next Game: UNC (12/4)

15. Oklahoma (7-0)
W Providence (79-77), W Arizona (82-77), W Louisville (69-64)
Next Game: Georgia Tech (12/3)

16. Memphis (6-1)
W UConn (99-97), W Michigan State (71-63), L Auburn (90-76)
Next Game: Louisiana Tech (12/4)

17. Ole Miss (6-1)
W BYU (96-85), L Purdue (80-78)
Next Up: No. 25 Louisville (12/3)

18. Baylor (5-2)
W New Orleans (91-60)
Next Game: UConn (12/4)

19. Pittsburgh (7-1)
W Ohio State (91-90), L Wisconsin (81-75)
Next Game: Mississippi State (12/4)

20. Houston (4-3)
L Alabama (85-80), W Notre Dame (65-64), L San Diego State (73-70)
Next Game: Butler (12/7)

21. Illinois (6-1)
W Little Rock (92-34), W Arkansas (90-77)
Next Game: Northwestern (12/6)

22. Drake (7-0)
W Georgia Southern (61-47)
Next Game: Valparaiso (12/5)

23. Michigan (6-1)
W Virginia Tech (75-63), W Xavier (78-53)
Next Game: No. 10 Wisconsin (12/3)

24. BYU (6-1)
L Ole Miss (96-85), W NC State (72-61)
Next Game: Providence (12/3)

25. Louisville (5-2)
W Indiana (89-61), W West Virginia (79-70), L Oklahoma (69-64)
Next Game: No. 17 Ole Miss

Dropped Out

(*previous ranking)

Week 4 Top 25

UConn (4), Indiana (12), UNC (14), Xavier (16), Arkansas (21), Mississippi State (25), St. Mary’s (25)