College Basketball Rankings: CBS Sports shakes up Top 25 and 1 after Auburn, Iowa State, Miss. State upsets

Posted by Admin March 5, 2025 Basketball

In just under two weeks, Selection Sunday will bring us an NCAA Tournament bracket. First up is the regular season’s close, where the upset have not slowed down. Tuesday brought three more with a trio of ranked teams dropping games.

Auburn, Iowa State, and Mississippi State were all on the losing end, two of which were on their home courts. As a result, CBS Sports has produced its latest top 25 and 1. Some major shakeups occur throughout the rankings.

Wednesday night produces another full slate while many teams will close out the regular season on Saturday. More changes to the top 25 and 1 could be on the way but for now, let’s check out the latest edition.

For just the second time in SEC play, Auburn was on the losing end Tuesday. After winning the SEC regular season championship, there was a bit of a letdown game in College Station.

Even so, Auburn has not dropped in the top 25 and 1 and likely will not elsewhere. Many still project the Tigers as the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, no matter how the regular season closes.

If anyone has a chance of catching Auburn, it’s Duke. There is a head-to-head result but a weak ACC has kept the Blue Devils from having a real case to be the first name called on Selection Sunday.

One final test is in front of them, heading to the Dean Dome Saturday. Cooper Flagg is still attempting to win National Player of the Year too, hoping a strong rivalry performance adds to his case.

(William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports)

Of the perceived locks for one-seeds, Houston comes in at No. 3. The Cougars have been nothing short of dominant since joining the Big 12, carrying over from their time in the American.

Monday against Kansas was the latest victory for Houston. Kelvin Sampson has made at least the Sweet Sixteen four consecutive years but working toward cutting down the nets not too far from home in San Antonio.

Emotions on Rocky Top are still high after Saturday’s buzzer-beater win against Alabama. A comeback for the ages, it’s one Tennessee is going to remember for a long time.

But as things are in the SEC, a tough one is ahead of the Vols. Wednesday brings a road trip to Ole Miss as Rick Barnes needs to avoid a hangover with SEC Tournament seeding still up for grabs.

From the Alabama side, the Tennessee loss was viewed as a complete collapse. Nate Oats has promised to be better in late-game situations as Alabama cost themselves big-time.

Next up are two teams featuring inside the top 25 and 1’s top 10 — Florida and Auburn. Both will take place in the Yellowhammer State as nobody finishes the regular season with a tougher two-game stretch.

Just one more win is needed for Michigan State to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Thursday night in Iowa City is the first opportunity to do so.

Five wins on the bounce have put the Spartans in this position. Two more will bring an outright championship, one Tom Izzo believes is more important than the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

Florida finds itself ranked below its fellow SEC teams, mainly due to the loss to Georgia. The Gators are just as dangerous as anyone though, showing they are capable of winning a national championship.

As mentioned, they travel to Tuscaloosa for a massive showdown against Alabama. Win in Coleman Coliseum and Florida is a few spots higher in the next version of the top 25 and 1.

Rick Pitino has brought St. John’s basketball all the way back, winning the program’s first Big East regular season title in 40 years. The head coach has been stealing headlines too as his team plays in Madison Square Garden.

Selection Sunday will likely bring St. John’s its highest NCAA Tournament seed since 2000. Advancing into the second round would be another drought breaker, going to the year prior in 1999.

Greg Gard, Wisconsin – © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Wisconsin is the first team to see some movement in their ranking because of an upset. Up one spot to No. 9, they have yet to play this week.

A rivalry matchup against Minnesota will take place Wednesday before closing in Madison against Penn State. Two out of the last three have been losses for Wisconsin as getting back on track has to be on the top of their mind.

Texas Tech slides into the top 10 after being No. 11 in the previous edition. Like Wisconsin, they have yet to play their midweek game with one upcoming on Wednesday.

Bigger picture, Grant McCasland has seen some inconsistent play over the past two weeks with a 2-2 record. Although, getting a second-ever win in Lawrence certainly boosted the mood.