A San Diego State Aztecs player warming up. according to KenPom’s Pomeroy rankings, the Aztecs are the second best mid-major team behind Gonzaga. Photo courtesy of @aztec_mbb on Instagram

The men’s basketball preseason AP Poll was released this week, and for the second year in a row, no mid majors (aside from Gonzaga) made the cut. It’s become familiar for the power-conferences to dominate the national headlines, while the smaller programs are left out of the conversations. However, every year a few teams manage to break into national relevance and climb the ranks among the best in the nation. As college basketball season nears, here are five such non-power conference teams that deserve recognition and could potentially cash the top 25 this year. 

San Diego State Aztecs 

The San Diego State Aztecs remain the standard for mid-major success. According to the Pomeroy rankings on KenPom, the Aztecs begin the season at No. 30, the highest among non-Gonzaga mid-majors. Under head coach Brian Dutcher, SDSU has been a model of consistency out of the Mountain West Conference, reaching the NCAA tournament in each of the past five seasons, including their national championship appearance in 2023. 

They return two key starters in Miles Byrd and Magoon Gwath, both of whom considered going to the NBA draft this offseason but decided they had more to prove in college. The Aztecs remain a physical, defensive-minded team, making them a difficult opponent for anyone. Dutcher leads a talented Aztecs squad that expects to see their name on Selection Sunday and will look to make noise this season. 

George Washington Revolutionaries 

The George Washington Revolutionaries are far from a household name in college hoops, but there’s genuine optimism surrounding this program right now. Chris Caputo’s squad is coming off an under the radar 21-win season in the Atlantic-10 and is hoping to build upon that for 2026.  

They return many of their starters and were active in the portal, including the addition of former Northwestern center Luke Hunger, who brings size and versatility to the front court. Expectations are higher than they have been in a long time, being ranked fourth in the Atlantic-10 preseason poll, the highest since their NIT championship season in 2015. They boast a strong, experienced roster that can rival the rest of the conference as they set their sights on their first NCAA tournament since 2014. 

Boise State Bronco Bhan Boum warming up. Under head coach Leon Rice, the Broncos had 11 seasons with 20-plus wins. Photo courtesy of @boisestatembb on Instagram

Saint Mary’s Gaels 

The Gaels have become perennial contenders in the West Coast Conference alongside Gonzaga, but this year they will need to work with a new-look roster after losing much of their key production to graduation. However, head coach Randy Bennett always seems to get the most out of his teams, and this year should be no different. KenPom ranks the Gales at No. 55, a testament to the program’s player development.  

Bennett’s teams are known for their discipline and efficient production. It’s hard to project a team with so many unknowns, but it’s even harder to doubt that Bennett will figure it out. Expect the Gaels to remain in the mix in the WCC and another NCAA tournament bid. 

Boise State Broncos 

The Boise State Broncos have quietly become a model of consistency under head coach Leon Rice. He has led the Broncos to 20 or more wins in 11 of the past 14 seasons, establishing them as a perennial contender in the Mountain West. As such, the Broncos are No. 53 in the KenPom rankings to start this season. 

The Broncos will return three of their top five scorers from a 26-win season last year and welcome UCLA transfer Dylan Andrews and Georgetown transfer Drew Fielder to round out a solid lineup. Despite losing their all-time leading scorer in Tyson Degenhart, the Broncos have proven they can be competitive year in and year out, and that should remain the case this season. 

South Florida Bulls 

Perhaps the most intriguing team on this list is the South Florida Bulls, who will have a new head coach this season in Bryan Hodgson. He led Arkansas State to a successful campaign last year and brought along two key players from that squad as well as four-star LSU transfer center Daimion Collins.  

Although the coaching shakeup led to transfers out of the program, Hodgson has built a deep, scary looking roster in the American Athletic Conference. USF may not have a strong basketball legacy, but they look to be on the up as the AAC seems to be up for grabs this season. 

Every college basketball season brings new surprises, but the stories of mid-majors always make the sport even more exciting. These programs that operate with significantly fewer resources than their power-conference counterparts find ways to compete among the best in the nation. Whether we see two mid-majors in the final four like in 2023, or all one-seeds like this past season, these smaller schools shape the integrity and storylines of college basketball.