Mid-major basketball is once again proving it belongs in the national conversation. Across multiple conferences, teams are stacking wins, defending home courts, stealing road wins, and building resumes that demand attention from the selection committee.
Mid Majors 2026
From undefeated seasons to conference title races tightening by the week, this group continues to separate itself from the rest of the pack. This week’s Mid-Major Top 10 reflects recent results, NET movement, and upcoming opportunities that could reshape the rankings quickly as February approaches.
10. Santa Clara Broncos (16-5, NET: 45)
Santa Clara slides into the Top 10 on the strength of a five-game winning streak. Their only recent loss came on the road at Gonzaga, and since then the Broncos have knocked off LMU, Pacific, Saint Mary’s, San Diego, and San Francisco. The schedule offers immediate chances to stay hot with road trips to Loyola Marymount and Pacific. A Valentine’s Day home matchup with Gonzaga looms large, followed by a late-February trip to Saint Mary’s.
9. Belmont Bruins (19-3, NET: 62)
Belmont now sits alone atop the Missouri Valley Conference at 9-2. Eion Dillon’s 23-point outing powered a recent win over Valparaiso, while Tyler Lundblade continues to lead the team at 15.8 points per game. The Bruins are scoring more than 82 points per night and face a major test Saturday at home against Murray State before hosting Drake next week.
8. George Mason Patriots (19-2, NET: 67)
A road loss at Rhode Island dropped George Mason a few spots, but a bounce-back win over Davidson steadied things. The Patriots remain firmly in the Atlantic 10 title picture and are locked in a battle with Saint Louis. Kory Mincy led the way with 19 points in the most recent win. A tricky road game at St. Bonaventure is next.
7. Utah State Aggies (17-3, NET: 26)
Utah State climbs two spots after rebounding from back-to-back losses with wins at Colorado State and at home against Wyoming. MJ Collins Jr. continues to anchor the offense at 19 points per game. A massive home date with San Diego State is up next before road trips to New Mexico and Wyoming.
6. New Mexico Lobos (17-4, NET: 39)
The Lobos move up after extending their winning streak to three with victories over Fresno State, Nevada, and UNLV. Sitting at 8-2 in Mountain West play, New Mexico remains firmly in the league race. A road game at San Jose State precedes a major home showdown against Utah State.
5. Yale Bulldogs (13-3, NET: 56)
Yale continues to pace the Ivy League, rebounding from a brief skid with three straight wins. The Bulldogs are allowing just 71.4 points per game and held Penn to 60 in their latest outing. A big weekend awaits with Dartmouth and Harvard coming to New Haven.
4. Saint Mary’s Gaels (18-3, NET: 29)
Saint Mary’s has steadied itself after a road loss at Santa Clara, earning wins over Oregon State and Portland. Paulius Murauskas poured in 24 points in the Portland win and continues to average 19.3 per game. A massive road test at Gonzaga headlines the week.
3. Miami OH RedHawks (21-0, NET: 53)
Miami OH remains perfect at 21-0, though the road has not always been smooth. An 86-84 win over UMass required a career-high 30 points from Eian Elmer. The RedHawks recently rattled off three straight 100-point games and now return home to host Northern Illinois before heading back on the road.
2. Saint Louis Billikens (20-1, NET: 18)
Saint Louis continues to surge under Josh Schertz, rallying past George Washington after trailing at home. The Billikens lead the Atlantic 10 at 8-1, with Robbie Avila contributing 13.1 points and four assists per game. A huge home matchup with Dayton headlines the weekend.
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (21-1, NET: 4)
Gonzaga holds the top spot with a 21-1 record and a firm grip on the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs are scoring nearly 89 points per game while allowing just 66.5. Their lone loss came early against Michigan. A marquee home game against Saint Mary’s precedes road trips to Portland and Oregon State.
Dropped from the Rankings
- Murray State Racers (16-5, NET: 76)
Others in Consideration
- San Diego State Aztecs (13-5, NET: 47)
- VCU Rams (15-6, NET: 49)
- Tulsa Hurricanes (15-3, NET: 48)
- Akron Zips (15-4, NET: 54)
- McNeese Cowboys (15-4, NET: 58)
Final Six Weeks
With February approaching, the margin for error is shrinking. Conference races are tightening, NET rankings are moving up and down weekly, and statement games are adding up. This group of mid-majors continues to prove depth, discipline, and consistency matter just as much as brand power, and several of these teams are positioning themselves for meaningful March runs.