College Basketball Rankings: Predicting the AP Poll Top 25 after opening week

The college basketball season is officially underway, and a number of upsets have already shaken up the way the AP Poll Top 25 will look after preseason projections give way to regular season results.

Despite several teams starting the year with buy games, there were Top 25 matchups on the schedule, including a pair of Top 10 showdowns between Kansas and North Carolina, then Auburn and Houston.

After one full week of results hit the record book, here is a predictive look at what the first regular season 2024-25 AP Poll Top 25 could look on Monday.

Predicted AP Poll Top 25

1. Kansas (Preseason: 1)

Kansas ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll Top 25 and did nothing to convince voters to go elsewhere. They now hold one of the best wins in the country as well after a home win against North Carolina on Friday.

2. Alabama (Preseason: 2)

Alabama opened the season with a pair of wins, including a game against Arkansas State where they were pushed into the second half, but pulled away despite the injuries they continue to bounce back from in the rotation.

3. UConn (Preseason: 3)

After the opening week, UConn gave no reason for anyone to think a drop-off is coming. The Huskies took care of business and looked like the new-look roster has plenty to build on.

4. Auburn (Preseason: 11)

Auburn probably holds the best win of the season, heading on the road to beat Houston over the weekend. To make the feat more impressive, the Tigers overcame some controversy during the travel there and still made a big statement.

5. Gonzaga (Preseason: 6)

Gonzaga started the season with a bang, beating Baylor by a huge margin in a game which changed the perception of the Top 10 outlook for the AP Poll. The Bulldogs had to hang on late vs. Arizona State to end the weekend but kept themselves in the win column.

6. Houston (Preseason: 4)

The top-ranked team with a loss, Houston falls down the board with a few teams picking up big wins. However, the loss against Auburn should do nothing to convince voters the Cougars are less likely to make a run back up the AP Poll Top 25.

7. Iowa State (Preseason: 5)

Another team which rolled to early wins, Iowa State remains in the mix as a Top 10 team in the AP Poll this week. The Cyclones look to build throughout the non-conference slate and cement their chances in the Big 12 conference title race.

8. Duke (Preseason: 7)

Duke brings in a highly-anticipated freshman class, just like it has proven able to do so many times. The real reason for optimism outside of that group is the investment in veteran transfer able to help the young core through the growing pains which will keep them in this tier until they prove themselves.

9. Arizona (Preseason: 10)

Arizona opened the season with two blowout wins over small schools, but did nothing to make AP Poll voters believe they should move anywhere but up in the Top 25 this week. The schedule now starts to pick up for the Wildcats.

10. Baylor (Preseason: 8)

Baylor had the most productive mixed-bag of results in the first week of college basketball, daring to face Gonzaga in what turned out to be a huge loss before picking up a win over Arkansas. The could have slid further due to the first loss, but the win counteracts the impact it should have with voters.

Predicting 11-25

11. North Carolina (Preseason: 9)
12. Tennessee (Preseason: 12)
13. Purdue (Preseason: 14)
14. Creighton (Preseason: 15)
15. Indiana (Preseason: 17)
16. Marquette (Preseason: 18)
17. Cincinnati (Preseason: 19)
18. Florida (Preseason: 21)
19. Kentucky (Preseason: 23)
20. Arkansas (Preseason: 16)
21. Texas A&M (Preseason: 13)
22. Ohio State (Preseason: NR)
23. Texas (Preseason: 19)
24. Ole Miss (Preseason: 24)
25. Rutgers (Preseason: 25)

Projected to drop out: UCLA (Preseason: 22)