College basketball rankings: 10 teams change spots in latest top 25 and 1 from CBS Sports

The first three weeks of the 2024-25 college basketball season are drawing to a close, and the non-conference slate has produced some fantastic action during the early-season slate — particularly in the top 25.

Ahead of the final week of November, CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish revised his Top 25 and 1 rankings after several ranked matchups forced 10 teams to change their spots throughout the power rankings.

1. Kansas Jayhawks (5-0)

Kansas could have wins over North Carolina, Michigan State and Duke by the end of November if they’re able to take down the Blue Devils in Vegas on Nov. 26.

The Jaykawjs have done everything asked of them to this point of the season. They’ve dominated mid-major competition while eeking out two gritty wins against marquee opponents. What happens on Tuesday night against Duke could either further separate the Jayhawks from the rest of the pack, or bring KU back down to earth.

2. Auburn Tigers (4-0)

Like Kansas, Auburn‘s reputation is aided by its statement November win. For the Tigers, they defeated Houston 74-69 on Nov. 9. Aside from that matchup, they’re beating their mid-major opposition by an average of 36 points.

Auburn will be tested again beginning on Monday night. They’ll take on Iowa State in a top-five matchup in the Maui Invitational. North Carolina, UConn and Michigan State are all a part of the tournament as well.

3. North Carolina (3-1)

UNC fans were treated to a unique matchup at Hawaii on Friday night, and they’ll head to Maui for Monday a night matchup against the Dayton Flyers. However, unlike the Jayhawks and Tigers the Tar Heels are yet to have a victory that would impress the committee come March.

Of course, North Carolina could potentially have multiple opportunities to play highly-ranked teams before they take on Alabama in the SEC/ACC Men’s Challenge on Dec. 4.

4. UConn Huskies (4-0)

The two-time reigning national champions have had a quiet yet dominant start to the 2024-25 regular season. Defeating their first four opponents by an average of 38 points per game.

They’ll start out the Maui Invitational against Memphis. December will ramp up the competition level for the Huskies quickly, as they’ll play Baylor, Texas and Gonzaga in consecutive games to begin the month.

5. Iowa State Cyclones (3-0)

Four of the top five teams in the CBS Top 25 and 1 will be represented in Maui over Thanksgiving week. Iowa State is no different and is arguably a sleeper to win whole the invitational.

The Cyclones have played the least amount of games this season of all the teams on this list, but have taken care of business against its mid-major competition. Starting the Maui against Auburn is an immediate jump for Iowa State before a longer December slate.

6. Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-0)

Gonzaga beat the breaks off of Baylor to begin the 2024-25 season and while they haven’t exactly dominated their opposition like the first five teams on the list, they’re still No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll after five games.

With Gonzaga being in the West Coast Conference, they always have a stacked non-conference slate. They took care of Baylor, and then they’ll begin December against Kentucky in Seattle, and then in Madison Square Garden against UConn on Dec. 7 and 14, respectively.

7. Houston Cougars (3-1)

Houston has the opportunity to move up in the rankings if they can beat Alabama on Tuesday, which would likely cancel out the loss to Auburn on Nov. 9.

The Cougars have trounced the rest of its competition, but with the Crimson Tide being the last game in the non-conference against a ranked opponent as of this report, it becomes a must-win all of a sudden. Houston doesn’t have a game against a current ranked opponent until they play Kansas on the road on Jan. 25.

8. Marquette Golden Eagles (5-0)

Marquette has had a close call on more than one occasion during its first five games. Still, Shaka Smart’s squad has found numerous ways to win. That includes a massive 76-58 win over No. 6 Purdue on Tuesday.

Like several teams on this list, they will benefit from a successful December. They play No. 5 Iowa State on the road in the Big 12-Big East Challenge on Dec. 4 before hosting No. 19 Wisconsin three days later in another top-25 battle.

9. Tennessee Volunteers (6-0) +2

Tennessee won the Baha Mar Hoops – Bahamas Championship after defeating Virginia and No. 13 Baylor in consecutive days. It was a strong showing for the Volunteers who don’t have as tough of a non-conference schedule as some of the other teams in the top 10.

That’s no knock on Tennessee, who beat the Cavaliers and Bears by an average of 18.5 points in the Bahamas. The 77-62 win over Baylor might have been the Vols’ first game against ranked competition, but they’ve beaten every team they’ve played this season by 15 points or more.

10. Kentucky Wildcats (5-0) +2

Kentucky’s gritty victory over Duke last week will go a long way in keeping the Wildcats ahead of the Blue Devils in many power rankings despite the Blue Devils’ win over Arizona. Still, UK has dominated every other opponent it’s faced this season, including a 108-59 win over Jackson State on Friday night.

Kentucky will have a full December slate, featuring games against Clemson, Gonzaga, Louisville and Ohio State before starting SEC play in January. What happens from now until then will go a long way in figuring out exactly what UK is under Mark Pope.

11. Duke Blue Devils (4-1) +2
12. Purdue Boilermakers (4-1) -3
13. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) -3
14. Indiana Hoosiers (4-0)
15. Wisconsin Badgers (6-0) +2
16. Baylor Bears (4-2) -1
17. Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1) -1
18. Pittsburgh Panthers (6-0) NR
19. Texas A&M Aggies (4-1)
20. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1)
21. Texas Longhorns (5-1)
22. Arizona Wildcats (2-2) -4
23. Florida Gators (6-0)
24. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-0)
25. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0)
26. Ole Miss Rebels (5-0)