Michigan Runs the Table and Claims the Crown: Wolverines Own the Final AP Poll
Michigan is sitting at No. 1 in the final AP Top 25 for the 2025-26 season, and yeah, they earned every single one of those 57 votes. The Wolverines just won their first national championship in 37 years, capping off the most dominant regular season in program history. This is what dominance looks like in college hoops.
From February Favorite to National Champs
The Wolverines finished the season 37-3 after beating UConn 69-63 in Indianapolis on Monday night. That win wasn't just another tournament run, it was the program's first NCAA title since 1989 and the Big Ten's first championship since 2000. Under second-year coach Dusty May, Michigan didn't mess around. They spent a week at No. 1 back in mid-February and never dropped lower than fourth after November. That kind of consistency at the top of the rankings tells you everything you need to know about how locked in this team was all season long.
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UConn grabbed the No. 2 spot after jumping five places following their run to the championship game. Arizona comes in at No. 3, with Duke fourth and Illinois fifth. The Fighting Illini climbed eight spots thanks to their Final Four push. Purdue, Houston, Iowa State, Florida, and St. John's round out the top 10.
Two teams that weren't even ranked heading into March Madness ended up in the final poll: Iowa landed at No. 15 after pulling off a second-round upset of defending champion Florida and reaching the Elite Eight, while Texas checked in at No. 22 after going from the First Four all the way to the Sweet 16. That's the kind of tournament magic that gets people talking.
Michigan's dominance is official. The AP has spoken, and the Wolverines' legacy is cemented for the next 37 years until someone else breaks through.
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