Hood College Men's Basketball Earns No. 3 National Ranking
The Frederick college achieved its highest-ever preseason position in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Basketball
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The Hood College men's basketball team has been ranked No. 3 in the latest D3hoops.com national preseason poll. This selection marks the highest national ranking in the history of the basketball program.
Why it matters
The recognition follows a dominant 2025-26 campaign for the Blazers, who captured the MAC Commonwealth Championship. The team finished that season with a 26-4 record, establishing their status as a top contender in Division III basketball.
Hood College earned 484 points in the preseason poll determined by a panel of 25 coaches and media members. This ranking reflects the team's strong performance after concluding the 2025-26 season with a 26-4 overall record.
The players
Hood College
This private liberal arts college located in Frederick, Maryland, competes in Division III athletics.
D3hoops.com
This media organization serves as the primary source for news, rankings, and analysis regarding NCAA Division III basketball.
The details
The rankings are compiled annually by a group of 25 sports information directors and media professionals across 28 years of polling history. Hood College enters the season with high expectations following their conference title win.
Timeline
The 2025-26 season saw Hood College finish with a 26-4 record.
The D3hoops.com preseason poll was released on October 23, 2026.
Hood College hosts Notre Dame of Maryland on November 6, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This national recognition establishes Hood College as a primary team to beat within the upcoming conference schedule. It signals a shift for the program from conference championship contender to a solidified national title favorite.
Local supporters can expect the team to carry significant pressure as one of the top three ranked programs in the country. The high preseason ranking often correlates with increased strength-of-schedule scrutiny throughout the regular season.
The takeaway
Maintaining a top-three ranking requires consistent performance against high-quality conference opponents throughout the winter. Fans should look for how the team manages the heightened expectations during their opening games in November.
What happens next
The Hood College men's basketball team is scheduled to open its 2026-27 season against Notre Dame of Maryland on November 6, 2026.
Further reading
For more news on local collegiate programs, see Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.
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