Last season, we debuted the Mid-Major Top 10 and it was met with a resounding response.
So this year, we’re bringing it back. Every week of the season, the ten best non-Power 6 programs in the country, plus some others you should pay attention to.
Yes, the term “mid-major” is not everybody’s favorite thing. We get that, but after literal hours of research and consideration this offseason, we couldn’t find anything truly *better*. There were some options that would be more favorable to some, sure, but there wasn’t anything truly better. Please do recall that mid-major is not used as a derogatory term in any sense here; at its core, this is a way to shine a spotlight specifically on programs outside the conferences that are on television every weekend.
Our Preseason MM Top 10 is led by the Ragin Cajuns (call ’em Louisiana, call ’em Louisiana-Lafayette – but everyone knows the Ragin Cajuns moniker). Last season, we excluded the Cajuns and James Madison from this list but this year, they’re fair game. The Cajuns return a solid 3-headed pitching monster and have some key offensive pieces back.
North Texas is a popular pick nationwide after winning the CUSA tournament and reaching the Stillwater regional final last year. The Mean Green return their own pitching stars and some offensive weapons; their biggest task will be holding up under the pressure they now find themselves faced with.
Four reigning conference champions made the MM Top 10 – #4 Liberty (ASun), #8 South Dakota State (Summit), #9 Murray State (OVC), and #10 McNeese (Southland). Of course, Murray State has since departed the Ohio Valley Conference and joined the Missouri Valley.
Conspicuously absent from the list are reigning West Coast Conference champions Loyola Marymount, who came in at #11 for the preseason. Reigning Mountain West champion San Diego State also did not make the list, though the graduation of pitching star Maggie Balint is a big piece of the Aztecs’ absence from the preseason list.
The Mid-Major Top 10 will arrive every Wednesday morning during the regular season, beginning on February 15th following Week 1 action.
