FHSU Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball received votes in the NABC Preseason Top 25 Poll for the 2025-26 season. The Tigers are coming off a 22-10 overall record in 2024-25, while making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year.
Fort Hays State was one of two MIAA teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year, which also included Central Regional champion and national semifinalist Washburn. The Ichabods open the year ranked No. 2 in the nation and are the only team from the MIAA inside the top 25 to start the year. Joining FHSU in the receiving votes section from the MIAA is Rogers State and Central Oklahoma.
Fort Hays State is looking to crack the NABC Top 25 for a third-straight season. Last year, the Tigers started at No. 16 in the preseason rankings, and in 2023-24 they ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation. Fort Hays State has been among the top 25 of the poll 116 times in program history.
The Tigers will open their 2025-26 season hosting a top-10 ranked team in Southwest Minnesota State. The Mustangs come to Hays with a preseason ranking of No. 9. The Mustangs won last year's meeting between the teams in Southwest Minnesota State's home floor 68-62.
NABC Preseason Top 25 Poll for 2025-26
RANK SCHOOL 2024-2025 POINTS PREVIOUS
1 Nova Southeastern (Fla.) (15) 36-1 399 2
2 Washburn (Kan.) 30-4 326 5
3 Dallas Baptist (Texas) 34-5 325 4
4 Daemen (N.Y.) (1) 28-1 291 1
5 Fairmont State (WVa.) 27-5 274 11
6 Alabama Huntsville 32-2 272 3
7 Point Loma (Calif.) 29-6 258 9
8 Missouri S&T 25-6 240 12
9 Southwest Minnesota State 21-9 229 NR
10 Colorado School of Mines 29-5 214 7
11 West Liberty (WVa.) 30-5 199 6
12 Cal State Dominguez Hills 30-6 190 14
13 Michigan Tech 24-8 144 23
14 Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) 25-6 130 13
15 Florida Southern 26-9 126 18
16 Columbus State (Ga.) 27-5 117 8
17 Black Hills State (S.D.) 18-12 110 NR
18 Central Washington 22-10 97 NR
19 Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 29-6 94 10
20 Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 22-7 91 NR
21 Virginia State 22-9 76 NR
22 Gannon (Pa.) 27-7 71 22
23 Findlay (Ohio) 24-5 68 NR
24 Bentley (Mass.) 18-10 67 NR
25 Lubbock Christian (Texas) 25-9 56 21
Receiving Votes: St. Cloud State (Minn.) 52, UNC Pembroke (N.C.) 49, St. Mary's (Texas) 46, Lake Superior State (Mich.) 45, Valdosta State (Ga.) 42, USCA (S.C.) 39, MSU Moorhead (Minn.) 37, Assumption (Mass.) 36, Rogers State (Okla.) 35, Miles (Ala.) 27, Lincoln (Mo.) 25, Minnesota Duluth 25, Adelphi (N.Y.) 24, Minnesota State 22, Northern Michigan 22, Chico State (Calif.) 21, Clark Atlanta (Ga.) 20, North Georgia 20, Catawba (N.C.) 15, Tampa (Fla.) 15, Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) 12, Central Oklahoma 11, Dominican (N.Y.) 10, St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) 10, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9. Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) 9, Fayetteville State (N.C.) 8, Cal State San Bernardino 7, Missouri-St. Louis 7, West Texas A&M 7, Cal Poly Pomona 6, Ferris State (Mich.) 6, Fort Hays State (Kan.) 6, Oklahoma Baptist 6, Colorado Mesa 2, Montana State Billings 1, Montevallo (Ala.) 1, Pace (N.Y.) 1.