New Year’s Day in college basketball is not just about ranked teams and familiar national brands. For mid-major programs, January 1 is where seasons truly begin. Conference play ramps up immediately, margins get thinner, and every home game starts to feel like a must-have.
This year’s New Year’s Day slate is loaded with meaningful mid-major matchups. From the Missouri Valley to the WAC, these games will shape standings, build confidence, and expose which teams are ready for the grind of January and February. Here are the top six or seven mid-major games to watch as Wednesday becomes a showcase for programs that live and breathe conference basketball.
Ranking the Best Mid-Major Games on New Year’s Day
Wednesday Mid-Majors Take Over January 1
New Year’s Day is when mid-major college basketball fully turns the page into conference mode. There is no warm-up period. Every game matters, standings begin to take shape, and early momentum can carry a team for weeks. Ranked from 7 up to 1, here are the best mid-major games on the New Year’s Day slate, cleaned up for clarity while keeping the full context of each matchup.
7. Valparaiso Crusaders (6-7) at Southern Illinois Salukis (6-8)
Something will have to give in this Missouri Valley matchup. Neither team has won a conference game yet. Valparaiso sits at 6-7 overall and 0-2 in league play, having dropped four straight games. Their last two losses came against Murray State and Northern Iowa. Owen Dease has been the top scorer for the Crusaders, averaging 12.1 points per game, but Valparaiso is scoring just 71.4 points per contest as a team.
Southern Illinois has also struggled to start the season, sitting at 6-8 overall with four straight losses. However, their conference schedule has been brutal, with all three league losses coming against unbeaten MVC teams. Their most recent loss was a three-point setback at Murray State, following losses to Illinois State and Bradley. Quel’Ron House leads the Salukis with 14.7 points per game. For both teams, this game feels like a turning point.
6. Evansville Aces (4-10) at Illinois State Redbirds (11-3)
Evansville has had a difficult start to the season and sits near the bottom of the Missouri Valley standings. The Purple Aces are 4-10 overall and coming off a loss to Bradley. Connor Turnbull leads the team in scoring, though he is averaging just over 21 minutes per game. Evansville will need its best effort of the season to stay competitive.
Illinois State, on the other hand, is rolling. The Redbirds are 11-3 and have won three straight games since a loss to Utah State. Their most recent outing was an impressive road win at Drake, where Chase Walker scored 17 points. Walker leads Illinois State with 12.7 points per game while also contributing 2.7 assists. With a favorable stretch of games ahead, this matchup is about handling business for the Redbirds.
5. California Baptist Lancers (10-4) at UT Arlington Mavericks (8-5)
California Baptist has been a team to watch all season. Despite a recent WAC loss to Utah Valley, the Lancers sit at 10-4 and remain a contender. Their other losses have come against Colorado, BYU, and Utah. Dominique Daniels Jr. has been outstanding, playing nearly 36 minutes per game and averaging 20.5 points per contest.
UT Arlington enters at 8-5 and is looking to regain momentum after a conference loss to Tarleton State, their second defeat in three games. They also dropped a road game at Stanford earlier this season. In their most recent win at Oral Roberts, Marcell McCreary scored a game-high 16 points. Raysean Seamster leads the Mavericks in scoring at 14.1 points per game. This is a key early WAC test for both sides.
4. Murray State Racers (11-3) at UIC Flames (5-8)
Murray State brings a seven-game winning streak into Chicago and looks like one of the hottest teams in the Missouri Valley. Their latest win was a three-point victory over Southern Illinois. Javon Jackson leads the Racers with 16.4 points per game, while Ramon Domon was the difference-maker in a recent win over Valparaiso, scoring 20 points off the bench.
UIC has had a tough season at 5-8 overall. They recently snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over Illinois Tech, scoring 102 points, though that came against a non-Division I opponent. In conference play, the Flames have been competitive, losing by three at Belmont and by six at home to Northern Iowa. Andy Johnson leads UIC with 13.6 points per game, with Ahmad Henderson II close behind at 13.5.
3. Indiana State Sycamores (8-6) at Northern Iowa Panthers (10-3)
Indiana State stopped a two-game skid with a huge home win over Belmont after facing a brutal early conference schedule that included Bradley, Illinois State, and Belmont. Ian Scott leads the Sycamores at 13.9 points per game. As a team, Indiana State is averaging 76.7 points per game while allowing 73.7.
Northern Iowa is 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play, coming off a 10-point home win over Valparaiso. That followed a road loss to Saint Mary’s, with other defeats coming against Wichita State and Tulsa. Trey Campbell anchors the Panthers with 13.5 points per game and 3.5 assists. This matchup could shape the top half of the MVC standings.
2. Utah Valley Wolverines (11-3) at Tarleton State Texans (10-4)
This game carries early first-place implications in the WAC. Utah Valley is riding a six-game winning streak, highlighted by a big home win over California Baptist. Their losses this season have come against Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State. Jackson Holcombe leads the Wolverines with 16.2 points per game, while Trevan Leonhardt adds 10.4 points and 6.9 assists. Utah Valley is one of the best passing teams in the country, averaging 20.6 assists per game.
Tarleton State enters on a five-game winning streak under head coach Billy Gillespie. The Texans are coming off a six-point road win at UT Arlington and are tough at home. Freddy Hicks leads Tarleton State with 11.8 points per game. Their losses this season have come against SMU, LSU, Baylor, and Cincinnati, all quality opponents.
1. Bradley Braves (10-4) at Belmont Bruins (12-2)
This is the best mid-major game on the New Year’s Day slate. Bradley has won seven straight games and sits at 3-0 in Missouri Valley play. The Braves opened conference action with a road win at Indiana State and followed it with home victories over Southern Illinois and Evansville. JaQuan Johnson leads the Braves and is averaging nearly 19 points per game, including a 22-point effort against Evansville.
Belmont enters at 12-2 overall but already has one conference loss after a road defeat at Indiana State snapped a four-game winning streak. Tyler Lundblade is one of the top shooters in the country and leads the Bruins with 16.6 points per game. A home win puts Belmont right back in the MVC title race, while a Bradley win would further cement the Braves as a league favorite.
Where January Really Begins
These games may not feature the biggest brands in college basketball, but they deliver some of the most meaningful action of the season. Mid-major teams feel every possession once conference play begins. By the end of New Year’s Day, standings start to matter, momentum begins to build, and the path to March becomes clearer. This is where January truly starts.