SB Nation’s NCAA Poll: Return to chaos

We will be running the poll one more time before we take a break for the holiday season. Many of our teams are already done for the semester, but we have a few more exciting games to be played.

1. Ohio State (14-2-2), 109 (5) — Last poll: 1

• Last week: W 2-1 @ Minnesota Duluth (12/2), L 4-5 OT @ Minnesota Duluth (12/3)
• Coming Week: No Games/

A tight win and an overtime loss to Duluth were not enough to knock the Buckeyes off their perch atop the poll. They will be off this week as they prepare for another big OOC test.

2. Quinnipiac (16-1-0), 108 (6) — Last poll: T-2

• Last week: W 5-0 @ Union (12/2), W 3-0 @ Rensselaer (12/3)
• Coming Week: @ Providence (12/9), v Providence (12/10)/

A shutout sweep on the road nearly has the Bobcats at the top but were unable to surpass Ohio State. This weekend will be a huge pair as they take on Providence that will be important in the PWR later on.

3. Colgate (15-2-1), 80 — Last poll: 6

• Last week: W 5-2 @ Brown (12/2), W 5-3 @ Yale (12/3)
• Coming Week: No Games/

Two road wins over the Ivy especially handing Yale their first loss on the season. They will be off until the new year but not before being this week’s ‘Belles of the Ball.’

4. Yale (8-1-1), 79 — Last poll: T-2

• Last week: T 4-4 OT v Cornell (12/2), L 3-5 v Colgate (12/3)
• Coming Week: v Rensselaer (12/9), v Union (12/10)/

All good things come to an end and this was a rough weekend on home ice for the Bulldogs. A collapse against a struggling Cornell team led to a bad loss to Colgate. They will have an easy pair to rebound with.

5. Minnesota (12-3-2), 74 (1) — Last poll: 5

• Last week: W 4-1 v Minnesota State (12/2), W 4-1 @ Minnesota State (12/3)
• Coming Week: v St. Cloud State (12/9), @ St. Cloud State (12/10)/

Mankato was no match for the Gophers who now take on the Northern Huskies for a pair.

6. Wisconsin (13-2-1), 67 — Last poll: 4

• Last week: W 13-1 @ Bemidji State (12/2), W 4-1 @ Bemidji State (12/3)
• Coming Week: @ Minnesota State (12/9, 12/10)/

The Beavers were no match for the Badgers as Wisconsin rolled over them. This week will bring a similar road trip as Bucky heads to Mankato for a very easy pair.

7. Northeastern (18-2-1), 54 — Last poll: 7

• Last week: W 3-1 v Vermont (12/2), W 5-1 v Vermont (12/3)
• Coming Week: No Games/

This weekend was a major question mark for the Huskies as Vermont was right behind them, with games in hand, for Hockey East. In the end, The Huskies overmatched the Catamounts to head safely into the break on a solid winning streak.

8. Minnesota-Duluth (12-6-0), 46 — Last poll: 8

• Last week: L 1-2 v Ohio State (12/2), W 5-4 OT v Ohio State (12/3)
• Coming Week: v St. Thomas (12/9, 12/10)/

Duluth definitely came out looking better on the weekend than Ohio State but teams around them were equally impressive. This weekend will be a pair of easy games with the Tommies in town.

9. Cornell (7-3-2), 13 — Last poll: 9

• Last week: T 4-4 OT @ Yale (12/2), W 4-2 @ Brown (12/3)
• Coming Week: No Games/

The weekend started pretty bad but the Big Red led a furious comeback to salvage a tie against a very good Yale team to keep their Ivy hopes alive. The next day was less than ideal as they had to mount another comeback but took the win this time before having the weekend off.

T-10. Clarkson (16-5-1), 8 — Last poll: 10

• Last week: W 5-1 v Harvard (12/2), W 5-0 v Dartmouth (12/3)
• Coming Week: No Games/

Two solid wins send the Golden Knights into the New Year on a good note.

T-10. Providence (15-4-1), 8 — Last poll: ARV

• Last week: W 4-2 v Merrimack (12/2), W 4-1 v Merrimack (12/3)
• Coming Week: v Quinnipiac (12/9), @ Quinnipiac (12/10)/

The Friars were finally able to crack the top ten this week after sweeping Merrimack. This weekend will be a huge test as they play a pair against Quinnipiac that will potentially boost their profile.

Also Receiving Votes: Penn State 7, Princeton 4, Vermont 3