The latest AP Poll is out, and it’s bringing chaos to the college basketball rankings! One of the biggest shocks? Defending champions South Carolina Gamecocks led by the legendary Dawn Staley took a major hit, dropping two spots after a stunning 58-87 blowout loss to the UConn Huskies!

History was made as Notre Dame officially claimed the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll, marking their return to the top for the first time since 2019. The Fighting Irish seized the opportunity after UCLA suffered their first loss of the season with a 71-60 loss to archrival USC.

“It’s definitely an honor to be the nation’s top team, but we are just focused on getting better every day,” said Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey, keeping her squad locked in on the bigger picture. The Fighting Irish earned 16 first-place votes from a 30-member national media panel, solidifying their place at the top.

But there’s no time to celebrate, as Notre Dame now turns its focus to a high-stakes showdown against No. 11 Duke. Led by the dynamic duo of Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, the Fighting Irish have a golden opportunity to silence the critics and prove once and for all why they deserve to be called the best team in the nation.

Just like Notre Dame, Texas is making history, climbing to its highest ranking since 2017 after a statement win over LSU. The Longhorns, who secured eight first-place votes, have become the first team since 2004 -05 to defeat three straight top-10 opponents according to ESPN. With dominant victories over South Carolina, Kentucky, and LSU, Texas have cemented itself as one of the prime contenders to win the championship this season.

Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers also saw a two place drop after the Texas Longhorns rallied from 11 points behind to win 65-58. Elsewhere the Kentucky Wildcats were the biggest losers of this week after dropping down 6 places following their 67-49 humbling to Texas! Check the whole table here. 

Dawn Staley and Kim Mulkey now face a tough road ahead as they look to regroup, bounce back, and reclaim their dominance. With their rankings taking a hit, the pressure is on for the winners of the past two editions to turn things around. Let’s dive into their next matchups and see what challenges lie ahead.

South Carolina and LSU look to bounce back

The South Carolina Gamecocks, sitting at a dominant 11-1 in the SEC and 23-3 overall, are looking to bounce back in style as they host the struggling Arkansas Razorbacks at Colonial Life Arena on February 21.ESPN gives them a 99% chance of winning as the Razorbacks have only won 1 in their last 5. Dawn Staley knows her team will need to be careful of Izzy Higginbottom and keep her quiet if they want to win.

The LSU Tigers, boasting a strong 10-2 SEC record and 25-2 overall, are ready to bounce back as they host the Georgia Lady Bulldogs on February 21 at the iconic Pete Maravich Assembly Center. ESPN also gives the Tigers a 99% chance of winning as Georgia have also won 1 in their last 5 games with the win coming against Arkansas. Freshman guard Trinity Turner is someone Kim Mulkey will have to keep a close eye on if she wants to win the game!

With Notre Dame claiming the top spot and Texas rising to No. 2, the college basketball landscape has been shaken up. It sets the stage for fierce competition. As South Carolina and LSU look to bounce back, the pressure is on for the defending champions and top-ranked teams to prove they can maintain their dominance. Stay tuned for more updates