North Dakota State Picked for Summit League Titles

The conference preseason poll projected top finishes for both the men's and women's basketball programs.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration featuring stylized basketball players in motion, using green and yellow colors to represent North Dakota State's team expectations. — North Dakota State University's men's and women's basketball teams were selected to lead the Summit League in the 2026-27 preseason coaches and media poll. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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North Dakota State has been selected by conference coaches and media to win both the men's and women's 2026-27 Summit League regular season basketball titles. The league office officially announced the preseason poll results on Tuesday.

Why it matters

These preseason projections indicate high expectations for the Bison programs as they enter the new basketball season. The results serve as a benchmark for competitive outlook within the league based on regional coaching and media consensus.

The North Dakota State men's team secured 13 first-place votes, while the women's squad received 24. These totals topped both the men's 410-point runner-up and the women's 429-point second-place team.

The players

North Dakota State

This university's athletic department is based in Fargo and oversees both the men's and women's basketball programs.

Summit League

This athletic conference coordinates intercollegiate sports competitions among member universities across the Midwest.

St. Thomas

This university competes in the Summit League and finished as the runner-up in the men's preseason poll.

South Dakota State

This institution is a long-standing member of the Summit League with highly ranked basketball teams.

Omaha

The University of Nebraska Omaha is a member of the Summit League that participates in the conference's basketball competitions.

The details

Conference coaches and media cast their ballots to determine the projected standings for the upcoming basketball season. The poll results highlight a competitive landscape with St. Thomas, South Dakota State, and Omaha also receiving first-place votes in the men's division.

The league office announced the results of the preseason basketball polls on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.
The 2026-27 season covers the upcoming period for all Summit League basketball programs.

Season Trajectory

These poll results set the initial narrative for the 2026-27 season, establishing the favorites and challengers before the first tip-off. The selection of North Dakota State in both categories reinforces their status as the program to beat within the conference hierarchy.

These projections set the baseline expectations for the upcoming season, indicating which teams will carry the largest targets on their backs during conference play. Fans and analysts will now track whether North Dakota State can convert these 13 and 24 first-place votes into actual conference championships.

The takeaway

Preseason polls offer a window into how conference peers view the strengths of competing athletic programs. Staying updated on these early rankings helps followers of college basketball understand the shifts in power dynamics before the season begins.