AP Poll - January 19, 1986
Poll 9 of 16 of the 1985-1986 season; Texas is No. 1 (unchanged).
| Rank | School | Conference | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Texas | Southwestern | - |
| 2. | Georgia | SEC | - |
| 3. | Louisiana Tech | Independent | - |
| 4. | Virginia | ACC | - |
| 5. | USC | Pac-West | - |
| 6. | Western Kentucky | Sun Belt | - |
| 7. | Long Beach State | PCAA | - |
| 8. | LSU | SEC | 2 |
| 9. | Mississippi | SEC | 1 |
| 10. | Auburn | SEC | 1 |
| 11. | Tennessee | SEC | 1 |
| 12. | Rutgers | A-10 | 1 |
| 13. | Ohio State | Big 10 | 1 |
| 14. | Oklahoma | Big Eight | 3 |
| 15. | North Carolina | ACC | 3 |
| 16. | Penn State | A-10 | 1 |
| 17. | Iowa | Big 10 | 1 |
| 18. | Duke | ACC | 2 |
| 19. | NC State | ACC | 2 |
| 20. | Idaho | MWAC | new |