College basketball fans know this by now: some of the most entertaining, disciplined, and dangerous teams in the country live outside the power conferences. Mid-majors are once again proving they belong in the national conversation, piling up wins, dominating league play, and setting themselves up to be real problems come March.
This list looks at the top 10 mid-major teams in college basketball right now. This is updated from last weeks rankings (Jan. 7):
10. Murray State Racers (15-3)
Murray State cracks the top 10 with a 15-3 record and a perfect 7-0 start in Missouri Valley play. The Racers are rolling, winners of 11 straight games, and they made a loud statement with a 20-point blowout of Bradley.
This is a fast-paced team that can really score. Murray State ranks 25th nationally in scoring at 87.9 points per game, and they rarely let teams get comfortable defensively. Up next is a home game against Indiana State, followed by tough road trips to Drake and Northern Iowa.
9. McNeese Cowboys (14-3)
McNeese sits at 14-3 and inside the top 50 of the NET rankings. The Cowboys are 7-1 in Southland Conference play, tied at the top with Stephen F. Austin and Nicholls. What separates McNeese right now is how convincing their wins have been.
They recently beat both Stephen F. Austin and Nicholls, including a 26-point blowout of Nicholls that turned heads. The Cowboys head on the road next to UT Rio Grande Valley and Texas A&M–Corpus Christi before returning home on January 24 to face New Orleans.
8. Yale Bulldogs (12-3)
Yale takes a step back this week after a tough loss at Princeton, but they remain one of the most talented teams in the Ivy League. That defeat followed another concerning moment earlier in the season when the Bulldogs gave up 102 points at Alabama.
Still, this team has plenty of firepower. Nick Townsend leads the way at 16.3 points per game and also hands out 4.1 assists. Yale now has a chance to steady itself with back-to-back home games against Cornell and Columbia.
7. George Mason Patriots (17-1)
George Mason continues to win, regardless of what the NET rankings say. The Patriots are 17-1, with their only loss coming on the road at Virginia Tech. They are right in the thick of the Atlantic 10 race alongside Dayton and Saint Louis.
Recent wins over VCU at home and Loyola on the road have reinforced how steady this group has been. Kory Mincy leads the team at 16.6 points per game. George Mason hosts George Washington this weekend before heading to Rhode Island on January 24.
6. New Mexico Lobos (14-3)
New Mexico checks in at No. 41 in the latest NET rankings and is playing its best basketball of the season. The Lobos have won four straight games since a road loss at Boise State, capped by a 23-point blowout of Grand Canyon.
Their three losses have come against quality competition, including Nebraska and rival New Mexico State. A big road test at San Diego State is next, followed by home games against Fresno State and Nevada.
5. Miami (OH) RedHawks (18-0)
Miami (OH) is one of the last undefeated teams in college basketball, and the RedHawks are doing it in convincing fashion. They are not just winning MAC games, they are controlling them, with blowout wins over Akron, Western Michigan, Toledo, and Central Michigan.
Those four wins have come by an average of nearly 17 points. Brant Byers leads the way at 15.6 points per game. Miami hosts Buffalo next, then heads to Kent State before closing January with home games against UMass and Northern Illinois.
4. Utah State Aggies (14-1)
Utah State has been one of the most impressive teams in the Mountain West and currently sits 14th in the NET rankings. The Aggies are tied with San Diego State atop the conference and already own a dominant road win at Boise State.
They are balanced on both ends, scoring 87 points per game while allowing just 67. MJ Collins Jr. leads the team at 20.5 points per game. Utah State hosts Nevada on Wednesday before heading to Grand Canyon on Saturday.
3. Saint Mary’s Gaels (17-2)
Saint Mary’s continues to do what it always does: defend, execute, and win games efficiently. The Gaels are 30th in the NET rankings and riding an eight-game winning streak.
Paulius Murauskas scored 21 points in the recent win over San Francisco, while Joshua Dent added 19 points and seven assists. Saint Mary’s now takes its momentum on the road to Santa Clara before hosting Oregon State on January 21.
2. Saint Louis Billikens (15-1)
Saint Louis checks in at No. 24 in the NET rankings and has been one of the most consistent teams in the country. Their only blemish remains a buzzer-beater loss to Stanford, and they have handled nearly everyone else with confidence.
The Billikens are coming off a road win at La Salle and now return home to host Fordham and Richmond. Robbie Avila leads the offense with 12.9 points per game while shooting nearly 53 percent from the field.
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (17-1)
Gonzaga sits atop the mid-major rankings once again, and they also belong firmly in the national title discussion. The Bulldogs’ only loss came against Michigan, and they have responded by winning 10 straight games.
Braden Huff is leading the way with nearly 18 points per game, and Gonzaga continues to overwhelm teams with efficiency and depth. The Bulldogs are fifth in the latest NET rankings and will once again battle Saint Mary’s for West Coast Conference supremacy. Their first meeting is set for January 31, with road games at Washington State and Seattle coming up first.
Dropped From the Rankings
- VCU Rams (11-6)
- Illinois State Redbirds (12-5)
Others to Watch
- Santa Clara Broncos (14-5)
- George Washington Revolutionaries (12-5)
- San Diego State Aztecs (11-4)
- High Point Panthers (16-3)
- Belmont Bruins (15-3)
Final Thoughts
Mid-major basketball is as strong as it has ever been. These teams are not just winning games, they are building profiles that demand national respect. As conference races tighten and March draws closer, expect several of these programs to move from “fun story” to “real threat” in a hurry.