KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Lions of Langston (Okla.) tip off the 2024-25 season atop of the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll with 13 first-place votes after playing in the national championship game just a season ago. College of Idaho opens the new season ranked second with five first-place votes, Indiana Wesleyan ranks third; and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) the 2023-24 national champions garnered two first-place votes and will begin their campaign in fourth. Eight teams begin the new season in the top 25 after not being ranked or receiving votes in the final poll of last season.

Poll Methodology:

• The NAIA Men’s Basketball Poll is for publicity purposes only and has no weight or bearing in the selection process for national championship field consideration
• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place and so on through the list
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low ratings) is removed
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
• Frequency of polls occur bi-weekly
• Records listed are as of the end of the day on Monday of the poll week
• For the complete Top 25 polls calendar, click HERE

Receiving Votes: Life (Ga.) 89, Columbia (Mo.) 84, Keiser (Fla.) 50, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 46, Pikeville (Ky.) 40, Indiana Tech 34, Dordt (Iowa) 24, IU Northwest (Ind.) 21, Hope International (Calif.) 19, Spring Arbor (Mich.) 13, Xavier (La.) 9, Peru State (Neb.) 9, Mobile (Ala.) 8, St. Thomas (Fla.) 3, Cornerstone (Mich.) 3, Southwestern (Kan.) 3, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 2