One of the everlasting charms of college basketball is that it’s played in arenas that can fit more than 17,000 people … but also in gyms with a capacity of less than 2,000. On a fundamental and by-definition-possible level, Duke, Kentucky and Kansas are vying for the same championship as Radford, Siena and Weber State. I’d concede that Division I is probably 50-or-so schools too large, but there is still widespread appeal over the topography that brings college hoops’ 365 teams across 49 states together.
And as always here at CBS Sports, we make the time and the space to give the players and programs outside the power conferences some attention and acclaim in advance of the season. We’ve got one week until the 2025-26 campaign tips off, so let’s look at who outside of the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC are well-positioned for strong regular seasons.
My annual vow on behalf of our team: We’ll write and talk about the mid-majors as the season moves along. This isn’t some box to check in October. Because mid-majors will be responsible for eye-opening upsets in November just as they will in March. Some of the best stories and surprises emanate from the Atlantic 10 and the Ivy League and the Missouri Valley and SoCon and Big West and the MAC and the MAAC and beyond.
College basketball rankings: Houston, Purdue, Kentucky, Duke and more headline 2025-26 Top 100 And 1 teams
Matt Norlander
Can’t wait to see who authors some of the can’t-miss storylines in what is going to be a telling season for mid-major hoops….
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