A month into the 2025–26 college basketball season, the NCAA NET rankings offer a clearer picture of which programs are overperforming and which are struggling. With most teams having played at least 7–8 games and a good portion of non-conference schedules complete, these early NET snapshots provide meaningful insights ahead of conference play.
Surprises in the Top 20
While the mid-major surprises grab a lot of attention, a few programs in the top 20 are producing some eyebrow-raising results—both positively and negatively.
Indiana (11th NET) – The Hoosiers’ placement is shocking given the lack of marquee wins so far. While they’re clearly crushing the teams on their schedule, the absence of quality opponents makes it hard to gauge if this ranking reflects true strength or early-season padding.
Houston (18th NET) – Surprisingly, the Cougars are underperforming relative to preseason expectations. As a team that usually dominates the AAC and makes noise nationally, their position at 18th suggests some struggles in consistency or closer-than-expected wins.
LSU (19th NET) – Much like Indiana, LSU’s early NET ranking is inflated by wins over weaker opponents. The Tigers look dominant on paper but have yet to beat a team that will likely make the NCAA tournament, leaving a question mark on how sustainable this ranking is once SEC play heats up.
These top-20 surprises highlight an early-season paradox: some teams look elite due to margin of victory and efficiency metrics, but lack of quality competition makes it difficult to take these rankings at face value.
Notable Teams Exceeding Expectations
These programs are off to strong starts, showing either sustained success or unexpected surges:
Yale (25th NET) – The Bulldogs continue to impress under their well-oiled system, combining experience with efficient offense.
Tulsa (27th NET) – Tulsa has been a quiet force early in the season, posting solid wins and maintaining consistency.
Santa Clara (32nd NET) – Dave Smart’s system is taking effect a year earlier than expected, putting Santa Clara near the top of the mid-major pack.
Belmont (35th NET) – Belmont is executing at a high level, demonstrating why they’re consistently among the top mid-major programs.
Akron (42nd NET) – Akron remains steady, balancing veteran leadership with an opportunistic style.
McNeese (44th NET) – The Cowboys didn’t miss a beat this year, showing strong continuity and effective coaching.
Wyoming (59th NET) – Wyoming has delivered solid performances in a competitive Mountain West.
California Baptist (61st NET) – CBU has steadily climbed the NET, reflecting strong preparation and depth.
New Mexico State (70th NET) – The Aggies are quietly grinding out wins, leveraging their experienced roster.
William & Mary (71st NET) – The Tribe is off to a strong start in the CAA, executing efficiently on both ends.
Sam Houston (78th NET) – Sam Houston has exceeded expectations, showing growth under their current system.
Buffalo (87th NET) – The Bulls are producing quality results, standing out in the MAC early in the season.
Pacific (81st NET) – Under Dave Smart’s leadership, the Tigers are performing as expected, solidifying themselves as a top WCC team.
Columbia(60th NET) hadn’t been in the top 200 since 2017 in major metrics.
These rankings highlight teams that have either carried over momentum from last season or have made immediate strides under new systems or coaching staff.
Teams Falling Short of Expectations
On the flip side, some programs are struggling far more than anticipated, despite talent or preseason hype:
Loyola Chicago (354th NET) – From recent NCAA tournament relevance to an early-season collapse, the Ramblers are in a surprising tailspin.
Georgia State (349th NET) – The Panthers are underperforming drastically, struggling to find consistency.
Louisiana (348th NET) – A historically strong mid-major program has stumbled, leaving early NET marks low.
Chattanooga (291st NET) – From NIT champions to near the 300 mark, the Mocs are in decline.
Radford (328th NET) – Despite a high-value roster, the Highlanders are failing to translate talent into wins.
ECU (320th NET) – The Pirates have had a rough start, with early-season struggles defining their outlook.
Furman (214th NET) – After a strong prior season, Furman’s shine has faded, showing the consequences of limited transfer activity.
Georgia Tech (201st NET) – The Jackets are floundering in ACC play, failing to capitalize on talent.
Maryland (200th NET) – A surprising drop for the Terps, whose roster depth hasn’t translated into wins yet.
Oregon (192nd NET) – The Ducks are underperforming relative to expectations, missing opportunities early in the season.
Rutgers (186th NET) – Despite some talent, the Scarlet Knights have struggled to find rhythm.
Mississippi State (172nd NET) – The Bulldogs are off to a sluggish start, lagging behind preseason expectations.
Marquette (167th NET) – Staying light on transfers is proving costly, as the Golden Eagles have struggled to produce.
Oregon State (265th NET) – The Beavers have yet to find consistency, reflected in their low early-season NET.
Early Takeaways
Many of the mid-major surprises (Yale, Tulsa, Santa Clara, Belmont) indicate strong preparation and continuity, showing the value of coaching systems and veteran leadership.
Programs underperforming (Loyola, ECU, Radford, Oregon, Maryland) highlight that roster talent alone isn’t enough—system fit, transfers, and coaching execution are critical.
With most non-conference schedules complete, conference play will either reinforce these trends or provide opportunities for teams to rebound.
As we move deeper into the season, the NET rankings will continue to offer insights into who is truly contending for NCAA tournament positioning and who is at risk of falling behind.
