AP Top 25 poll reaction: What to know about each team after Week 1

• ESPN

Nov 9, 2026, 11:00 AM ET

South Carolina had a dominant showing on Sunday night, beating North Carolina 84-39 to maintain its position atop the rankings. Just below, UConn recovered from a loss to Michigan with a strong showing against also-ranked Iowa. The rest of the top 10 managed to hold serve during a relatively quiet opening week. Nebraska is a newcomer to the poll.

1. South Carolina Gamecocks

Preseason ranking: 1

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: South Carolina's 45-point win against North Carolina is its largest against an AP Top 25 opponent.

What's next: Thursday at Clemson, 7 p.m., ESPN2

2. Michigan Wolverines

Preseason ranking: 5

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Michigan scored at least 100 points for the sixth time since the start of last season, the most among Big Ten teams.

What's next: Thursday at Columbia, 7 p.m., ESPN+

3. USC Trojans

Preseason ranking: 3

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: JuJu Watkins became the first Big Ten player in the past 25 years to have at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a game.

What's next: Wednesday vs. Charleston, 10:30 p.m., BTN

4. UConn Huskies

Preseason ranking: 2

2026-27 record: 2-1

Stat to know: Sarah Strong became the first UConn player since 1999-2000 to put up at least 35 points and 10 rebounds against an AP top-10 opponent.

What's next: Thursday at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m., FS1

5. Duke Blue Devils

Preseason ranking: 4

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Duke is 8-0 versus current Horizon League opponents.

What's next: Thursday at Norfolk State, 7 p.m., MEAC Network

6. Texas Longhorns

Preseason ranking: 6

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Madison Booker scored 30 points against Northern Colorado and moved into third on the program's all-time scoring list.

What's next: Wednesday vs. South Dakota State, 7 p.m., SEC Network

7. Louisville Cardinals

Preseason ranking: 7

2026-27 record: 3-0

Stat to know: Louisville recorded consecutive wins by at least 50 points for the first time since Dec. 7-14, 2013.

What's next: Tuesday vs.Lindenwood, 7 p.m., ACCNX

8. Vanderbilt Commodores

Preseason ranking: 8

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Vanderbilt's 117-point differential through two games is its largest in a two-game span since January 1993.

What's next: Monday vs. Morehead State, 7:30 p.m., SECN+

9. LSU Tigers

Preseason ranking: 9

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: LSU's 109-point win over Texas Southern is the largest in Division I history against a Division I opponent.

What's next: Tuesday vs. McNeese, 8 p.m., SECN+

T10. UCLA Bruins

Preseason ranking: 11

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Sienna Betts had a career-high 15 points against Lehigh.

What's next: Thursday vs. Arizona, 10:30 p.m., BTN

T10. Iowa Hawkeyes

Preseason ranking: 10

2026-27 record: 2-1

Stat to know: Iowa recorded its fifth straight loss to a AP top-two team.

What's next: Thursday vs. Northern Iowa, 8:30 p.m., BTN

12. Kentucky Wildcats

Preseason ranking: 14

2026-27 record: 3-0

Stat to know: Ajsa Sivka became the first Kentucky player to score 30-plus points against an AP-ranked team in her first collegiate season this century.

What's next: Wednesday vs. Evansville, 6:30 p.m., SECN+

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Preseason ranking: 13

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Notre Dame's 83-point win over Stonehill is its second-largest victory in program history.

What's next: Tuesday vs. Detroit Mercy, 7 p.m., ACCNX

14. Oklahoma Sooners

Preseason ranking: 21

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Oklahoma has won 33 straight games against unranked opponents.

What's next: Tuesday vs. San Jose State, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

15. TCU Horned Frogs

Preseason ranking: 15

2026-27 record: 3-0

Stat to know: Lara Somfai leads the Horned Frogs in points per game (18.0) and rebounds per game (7.5).

What's next: Tuesdsay vs. Iona, 5 p.m., ESPN+

16. Washington Huskies

Preseason ranking: 16

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Sayvia Sellers leads Washington in points per game (21.0) and assists per game (8.5).

What's next: Thursday vs. Cal State Bakersfield, 10 p.m., B1G+

17. Ohio State Buckeyes

Preseason ranking: 18

2026-27 record: 3-0

Stat to know: Jaloni Cambridge recorded her 22nd career game with 15-plus points and five-plus assists, extending her lead for the most such games in the Big Ten since 2024-25.

What's next: Thursday vs. UConn, 6:30 p.m., FS1

18. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Preseason ranking: 17

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Grace Grocholski had 25 points and 11 rebounds against Marquette.

What's next: Tuesday vs. Southern, 8 p.m., B1G+

T19. Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Preseason ranking: 22

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Audi Crooks had her 100th consecutive double-digit game in Oklahoma State's win against Morgan State.

What's next: Monday vs. Northwestern State, noon, ESPN+

T19. Maryland Terrapins

Preseason ranking: 20

2026-27 record: 1-1

Stat to know: Maryland is 11-0 all-time against George Mason.

What's next: Sunday vs. Columbia, 1 p.m., Big Ten Plus

21. Ole Miss Rebels

Preseason ranking: 19

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Ole Miss trailed North Alabama at the end of the first quarter before coming back to win 72-51.

What's next: Wednesday vs. Albany, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

22. Illinois Fighting Illini

Preseason ranking: 23

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Illinois allowed just one field goal in the first and third quarters in its 99-28 win over Southern.

What's next: Sunday vs. Southeast Missouri State, 3 p.m., Big Ten Plus

23. North Carolina Tar Heels

Preseason ranking: 12

2026-27 record: 0-2

Stat to know: North Carolina is 0-2 for the first time since 2015-16.

What's next: Wednesday vs. NC Central, 7 p.m., ACCNX

24. West Virginia Mountaineers

Preseason ranking: 24

2026-27 record: 3-0

Stat to know: West Virginia led for the entirety of its 81-63 win over Georgia Tech.

What's next: Friday vs. Northwestern, 5:30 p.m., CBSSN

25. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Preseason ranking: NR

2026-27 record: 2-0

Stat to know: Nebraska's 98-35 win over Western Illinois was the seventh-largest victory margin in school history.

What's next: Tuesday vs. North Carolina A&T, 8 p.m., Big Ten Plus