Arizona rises to No. 1 in the AP poll after Purdue’s loss to Iowa State, moving to 8-0 with wins over Florida, UCLA, UConn, and Auburn.

The AP Top 25 shows Arizona at No. 1, followed by Michigan, Duke, Iowa State, UConn, Purdue, Houston, Gonzaga, Michigan State, BYU, with Alabama at No. 12 and a mix of traditional powers and up-and-comers rounding out the top 25.

Arizona’s perfect start and the Purdue-Iowa State result underpin the new No. 1 ranking, with a schedule that already includes notable wins over Florida, UCLA, UConn, and Auburn.

Other top teams in the mix include Michigan’s dominant win over Rutgers and Duke’s win at Michigan State, alongside notes on their upcoming opponents.

Alabama has three AP No. 1 wins under coach Nate Oats, part of seven such nights in program history.

Alabama will host top-ranked Arizona in Birmingham in the CM Newton Classic, a prime test set for Saturday night, with the game tipping at 8:30 p.m. local time.

Nate Oats emphasizes Alabama must improve shooting, defense, and rebounding to contend with a physically imposing, fast-paced Arizona.

The upcoming matchup between Arizona and Alabama stands out as a critical near-term test for both programs.

Iowa State’s 81-58 win at Purdue is highlighted as a benchmark performance, with Iowa aiming for a Thursday rivalry game against in-state foe Iowa.

The article provides a roundup of top teams and their recent results and next games to contextualize current rankings.

Alabama sits No. 12 in the AP with a 7-2 record and a 2-2 mark against top-10 foes, after beating St. John’s and Illinois and dropping games to Purdue and Gonzaga.

In the NET rankings, Arizona is No. 6 and Alabama No. 11; historically, Alabama has a mixed record against AP No. 1 teams under Oats, with several wins and losses.

The piece indicates top-12 AP and Coaches poll relevance for both Alabama and Arizona.

The Alabama-Arizona game is an 8:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN, a neutral-site, non-conference meeting that continues a series dating back to December 2023.

The story frames Arizona, Michigan, Duke, and Iowa State as legitimate No. 1 contenders based on ongoing results and upcoming matchups.

The narrative emphasizes Arizona’s sustained No. 1 status while acknowledging viable challengers like Michigan, Duke, and Iowa State.

Arizona remains No. 1 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 for the 17th straight day, powered by a 97-68 win over Auburn and a strong overall profile.