LAKE CHARLES - On the heels of tipping off the 2026-27 season, the three-time defending Southland Conference Tournament champion McNeese Cowboys have been tabbed with a No. 9 ranking in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Preseason Poll.
 
The poll is now in its 28th season and is voted on by 31 Division I head coaches.
 
McNeese, 28-6 a season ago and the overwhelming favorite to win its fourth-straight championship, received one first place vote. The Cowboys are the lone team from the Southland Conference in the rankings.
 
Santa Clara, McNeese's opponent on December 14 at the Jack Jones Classic in Henderson, Nevada, is ranked right ahead of the Cowboys at No. 8. One other opponent, Southern Miss, is receiving votes.
 
The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: American East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Coastal Athletic, Conference USA, Horizon, Ivy, Metro, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, United Athletic, and West Coast.
 
McNeese will get its season started on Monday against UAB in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. Tip-off for the game is 4:30 CT and will be played in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The game will stream live on YouTube.
 
Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25
1. Miami (18)
2. High Point (9)
3. Illinois State (2)
4. UNCW
5. UIC (1)
6. Penn
7. Akron
8. Santa Clara
9. McNeese (1)
10. Saint Mary's
11. Wright State
12. Harvard
13. UC Irvine
14. Kennesaw State
15. San Francisco
16. Western Kentucky
17. Hofstra
18. Howard
19. South Dakota State
20. Princeton
21. Liberty
22. Belmont
23. Cal Poly
24. Toledo
25. Tennessee State