College basketball power rankings: Purdue makes its case for No. 1 ahead of Arizona, Duke

AP voters on Monday bumped preseason No. 1 Purdue down one spot to No. 2 in the first in-season rankings update — despite it opening the season 2-0 with double-digit wins, and doing so without star Trey Kaufman-Renn — and were instantly made to look fools for it. I believe they call that karma.

The Boilermakers on Thursday stuffed that decision — and No. 8 Alabama — into a locker on Thursday night with a resounding road win, showcasing why at full strength they are the team to beat in college basketball until further notice. The result was a reminder of not just the greatness of Purdue coach Matt Painter but also of the team he has assembled in West Lafayette.

The reward was the biggest victory for any team in the young season — and a spot at No. 1 in the debut edition of the 2025-26 CBS Sports men’s college basketball power rankings.

Let’s dive in.