This week’s AP Top 25 poll is the perfect reminder that in this sport, “unbeatable” is just a temporary state of mind. We’ve got shake-ups near the summit, some blue bloods licking their wounds, and a few teams quietly putting together resumes that will look terrifying come March. Let’s dive into the chaos of Week 7.
Arizona and Michigan: The Unmovable Objects
While the rest of the country seems determined to cannibalize itself, two teams are sitting pretty at the top, looking down at the carnage with a bag of popcorn.
The Arizona Wildcats (11-0) are still your undisputed kings of the hill. They aren’t just winning; they are burying teams. When you’ve won six straight games by 20 or more points, you aren’t just good—you’re a problem. They held onto the No. 1 spot in the AP top 25 for the third straight week, grabbing 38 first-place votes. Critics might point to a slight hiccup against San Diego State, but great teams find a way to close, and that’s exactly what the Cats did.
Right on their heels? The Michigan Wolverines (11-0). Look, if Arizona is a sports car, Michigan is a tank doing 100 mph. They just dropped 102 points on La Salle, marking their sixth 100+ point game of the season. They are scoring at a clip that would make an NBA All-Star Game blush. The gap is closing, too. Only 20 points separate them from Arizona in the voting. One slip-up from the Wildcats, and Ann Arbor is going to throw a party.
The Blue Devil Blues: A Lesson in Humility
Here is where the human element kicks in. You had to feel for the Duke Blue Devils. They walked into Madison Square Garden, looking like world-beaters. They had a 17-point lead. The game felt over. The bus was probably warming up…