Arkansas Basketball Falls to No. 20 in Poll
The Razorbacks dropped seven spots in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll after a 91-72 loss to Virginia.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
Arkansas basketball fell seven spots to No. 20 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll released Monday, November 9. The drop followed a 91-72 loss to Virginia, a top-15 matchup, leaving Arkansas at 1-1 to begin the season.
Why it matters
The ranking drop reflects Arkansas's early-season struggles on offense and its inability to generate enough turnovers against Virginia. With six SEC teams ranked in the top 25, Arkansas's position in a competitive conference race is being shaped by these early results.
The USA TODAY Coaches Poll placed Arkansas at No. 20 after a seven-spot drop, while Virginia rose three spots to No. 6 following its 91-72 win. Six SEC teams now hold top-25 rankings, and it remains unclear how Arkansas's ranking will shift after its next games.
The players
Arkansas Razorbacks
The University of Arkansas men's basketball program, a member of the Southeastern Conference, whose ranking fell in the latest coaches poll.
Virginia Cavaliers
The University of Virginia men's basketball program, which defeated Arkansas and entered the poll at No. 6 with a 3-0 start.
USA TODAY Coaches Poll
A weekly national ranking of college basketball teams compiled by a panel of Division I head coaches and published by USA TODAY.
The details
Arkansas struggled on offense and failed to generate enough turnovers in its loss to Virginia, which won 91-72. The result left Arkansas at 1-1 after a season-opening win over UAPB.
Timeline
The USA TODAY Coaches Poll was released on Monday, November 9, 2026.
During the week of November 9, Arkansas plays two home games against mid-major opponents.
Also during the week of November 9, Arkansas travels to New York City to face Indiana.
Season Trajectory
The early-season drop places Arkansas behind a field where six SEC teams already hold top-25 rankings, making its conference position harder to establish. Virginia's rise to No. 6 with a 3-0 start shows how quickly national rankings can shift for teams that win early marquee matchups.
Arkansas's ranking drop affects its standing in the national poll and the path toward postseason selection, with six SEC teams ranked in the top 25 raising the stakes for each conference game. Fans tracking the team's trajectory will see how the upcoming home games and the New York City road trip against Indiana shape its rise or fall.
The takeaway
Early-season results carry outsized weight in national rankings, and a single marquee loss can cost a team several poll spots before conference play begins. Watching how Arkansas performs against its upcoming opponents will clarify whether the seven-spot drop was a temporary setback.
What happens next
Arkansas plays two home games against mid-major opponents and travels to New York City to face Indiana during the week of November 9, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Arkansas Basketball coverage.
