Michigan strengthened its grip on No. 1 in the latest USCHO poll, extending its lead over Big Ten rival Wisconsin. The Wolverines stay on top with 38 first-place votes and a 16–4–0 record, while the Badgers remain one behind with 12 first-place votes at 13–2–2, as the Big Ten continues to own the top three with Michigan State steady at No. 3.
Behind them, the top 10 barely budges. North Dakota nudges up one spot to No. 4, flipping places with Minnesota Duluth, which slides to No. 5. Denver and Western Michigan stay locked in at 6 and 7. Penn State inches up to No. 8, Dartmouth slips one spot to No. 9 but still sits at an eye-catching 12–2–0, and Quinnipiac holds firm at No. 10 to round out a very stable top tier.
The middle of the poll is more about subtle reshuffling than big swings. Connecticut stays at 11, while Northeastern climbs one spot to No. 12, trading places with Boston College, which drops to 13. Minnesota State moves up to 14, Maine dips to 15, and Providence, Cornell, Harvard, and Boston University all hold their ground from 16 through 19. Union remains at No. 20, keeping the same 20th-place foothold it had a week ago.
There are no newcomers this week, but the pressure is building just outside the cut line. Augustana and New Hampshire sit tied as the top unranked teams with 57 votes apiece.