Iowa State moves up to No. 5 in AP Poll

[JakeBrend]

The Cyclones move up to No. 5 in the AP Poll, extending their streak inside the Top 25 to 46-straight weeks.

This marks Iowa State's 27th week in the AP Top 5, with 18 of those weeks coming under T.J. Otzelberger.

The Cyclones are one of four Big 12 teams in the Top 10, including Arizona (1), Houston (3) and Kansas (9).

Iowa State plays at TCU on Tuesday and hosts No. 9 Kansas for a Top 10 matchup on Saturday.

Iowa State moves up to No. 5 in AP Poll - Cyclone Fanatic

Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger calls a play during the second half against Oklahoma State in the Big-12 men’s basketball on Jan. 10, 2026, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Iowa State men’s...

cyclonefanatic.com

 

[CycloneErik]

Not bad. I was hoping we'd see 3rd this week, but no real complaints.

 

[Peter]

How the efff does Duke stay at no. 4 after choking away a game against UNC, and meanwhile, Illinois drops 3 spots after losing in OT on the road to a better MSU squad? Doook bias so annoying.

 

[Bader]

How the efff does Duke stay at no. 4 after choking away a game against UNC, and meanwhile, Illinois drops 3 spots after losing in OT on the road to a better MSU squad? Doook bias so annoying.

Because there's no broad agreement on who 3-6 is supposed to be. Houston at 3 has 1275 votes, UConn at 6 has 1227, Iowa State is only 7 votes behind Duke for 4th. Duke dropped 60 votes from last week, Illinois dropped 110. IMO Illinois is playing better than Duke, and against better competition

 

[Fall Creek]

One potential reason for Duke's higher ranking: they beat KU by 12, we lost by 20+ and looked bad doing so.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Feel like if we had beaten baylor by double figures we could passed duke.

 

[isuclone89]

4th on the coaches poll.

 

[nfrine]

5 is nice.

 

[Cydkar]

Not bad. I was hoping we'd see 3rd this week, but no real complaints.

We lost to Cincinnati. Undeserving of 3rd.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

How the efff does Duke stay at no. 4 after choking away a game against UNC, and meanwhile, Illinois drops 3 spots after losing in OT on the road to a better MSU squad? Doook bias so annoying.

I'm not a Duke fan in any sense, but Duke's two losses are by 1 point to Tech at a neutral site and by a last-second 3 to a rival at their house.

Our two losses are way worse. As far as Illinois, it's just 3 losses versus 2, IMO

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I thought the Top 10 was pretty spot-on based on records/results. However, based on remaining schedules, the Big XII is set to cannibalize itself. Be prepared for Big 10 teams, UConn and probably an SEC team to bump Big XII teams out of the Top 10 in the upcoming weeks. Probably North Carolina and Gonzaga too if they don't **** the bed.

 

[NY Chicago Fan]

Nice to be 5th but realistically so much will change 2/14-3/2 as ISU plays 5 ranked Teams.

Either they cement themselves in top 5 or could drop more than they should due to some tough losses.

 

[2speedy1]

It is about what I expected it. I expected Houston to pass us, etc.

If it was me I would flip ISU and Duke, otherwise its about where I would put everyone.

 

[inCyteful]

Not bad. I was hoping we'd see 3rd this week, but no real complaints.

Well it is CyFanatic - faux complaints are always welcome.

 

[cyclonefan0705]

I thought the Top 10 was pretty spot-on based on records/results. However, based on remaining schedules, the Big XII is set to cannibalize itself. Be prepared for Big 10 teams, UConn and probably an SEC team to bump Big XII teams out of the Top 10 in the upcoming weeks. Probably North Carolina and Gonzaga too if they don't **** the bed.

Depending on the losses and the fact that Arizona has been so dominant it probably won't be that bad, and other conferences will probably do the same things.

 

[theshadow]

Because there's no broad agreement on who 3-6 is supposed to be. Houston at 3 has 1275 votes, UConn at 6 has 1227, Iowa State is only 7 votes behind Duke for 4th. Duke dropped 60 votes from last week, Illinois dropped 110. IMO Illinois is playing better than Duke, and against better competition

UH, Duke, and ISU would all fall between 4th and 5th on a "perfect" points scale, with UConn just below 5th.

1475 = 1 (Arizona)
1416 = 2 (Michigan)
1357 = 3
1298 = 4
1275 Houston
1254 Duke
1247 Iowa State
1239 = 5
1227 UConn
1180 = 6
1121 = 7

 

[rosshm16]

UNC beats Duke, UNC moves up +3 spots, Duke stays put. So typical.

 

[Kinch]

Jon Rothstein, CBS sports, had Iowa State No.8. We would have been fourth or very close if you take his outlier away.

 

[RonBurgundy]

Be nice to see Arizona take out KU in the Phog tonight. Not to get ahead of anything, but if things fall right and we step up our play, could see a #1 v #2 matchup looming.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

It's nice to have a small number but it really doesn't matter at this point. Just trying to get better seeding for the tournament. Hopefully they get hot at the right time.