College basketball isn’t just about March Madness and buzzer-beaters. Behind the dunks and sideline cheers is a layered world of divisions and classifications that create the structural foundation for the NCAA.
When athletes consider D1 hype, they need to understand the pecking order. One of the critical lines drawn in the sand is between high-major, mid-major, and low-major conferences. Now, these divisions are not just for basketball but are applicable across sports.
High-Major, Mid-Major, and Low-Major in Conferences!
Understanding tiers is essential because not all D1s are created equal. It is pretty much like a three-layer cake. All are sweet, but each layer has its flavor. First up, the big dogs.
High Major Or The Power 5 Conferences
- ACC
- Big East
- SEC
- Big 10
- Big 12
When the world talks about D1, this is probably what it is talking about. The Power 5 are a collection of top programs. 21 of the top 25 men’s track programs are from these big leagues. And no doubt they are great in terms of hoop, too.
The maximum number of first-round picks for the NBA comes from one of the SEC colleges. The college is none other than Kentucky, with 60 first-rounders. Duke and North Carolina take second and third place, respectively. And both colleges are a part of the ACC.
These powerhouse schools are the complete package. They have great coaching, full scholarships, sleek facilities, and it is sure good in the NIL era. But this also means there is often less flexibility. Once a player is an elite recruit, they must live up to the time invested in them.
Mid Major Conferences
- America East Conference
- Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN)
- Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10)
- Big Sky Conference
- Big South Conference
- Big West Conference
- Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)
- Conference USA (CUSA)
- Horizon League
- Ivy League
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)
- Mid-American Conference (MAC)
- Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)
- Mountain West Conference (MW)
- Northeast Conference (NEC)
- Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)
- Patriot League
- Southern Conference (SoCon)
- Southland Conference (SLC)
- Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
- Summit League
- Sun Belt Conference (SBC)
- West Coast Conference (WCC)
- Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
- Pac-12
Mid-majors are that sweet spot. They are, of course, competitive but not cutthroat. These schools have some great athletes and programs, too. But they lack the depth that the Power 5 have.
Let’s not, however, forget that programs like Houston and Northern Arizona (NAU) punch way above their weight. NAU is a name that cannot be pushed aside regarding cross country.
Houston even took down Duke in the final four match in 2025, with a 70-67 score. The perks here include a great coach, good funding, and possibly more scholarship wiggle room. However, this also means less media coverage and a smaller competition pool.
Low Major Conferences
- American East
- A10
- Big South
- CAA
- NEC
- Patriot League
- Southern Conference
- Southwestern Athletic Conference
- Missouri Valley
- Atlantic Sun
- Ohio Valley
- Horizon
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
- Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
Low majors may not be household names, but they cannot be underestimated. These are still D1 programs, and they sometimes have some great players. After all, the NCAA champion Elle Purrier came from the University of New Hampshire.
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The competition might not be as hectic and challenging top-to-bottom. These conferences have flexibility, lower scholarship requirements, and the D1 badge of honour. This is perfect for those looking to balance a college experience with athletics.
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