midmajor

Midmajor is a term used in United States college athletics, especially NCAA Division I basketball, to describe programs that compete in conferences outside the traditional major group, typically the Power Five in football and the top conferences in basketball. The label signals differences in budget, media exposure, and resources relative to programs in the best-known conferences; the line between midmajor and major has blurred in recent years due to conference realignment and on‑court success.

In basketball, midmajors routinely contend for NCAA tournament berths and have occasionally produced national contenders or surprise Final Four runs. The term is commonly applied to programs from leagues such as the West Coast Conference, Missouri Valley, Atlantic 10, Mountain West, and the like.

Notable examples include Gonzaga (West Coast Conference), Saint Mary's (WCC), San Diego State (Mountain West), VCU (Atlantic 10), Wichita State (American Athletic), Butler (history in Horizon League, now Big East), and Loyola Chicago (Missouri Valley). These programs have built strong coaching, fan bases, and competitive rosters that challenge higher-profile programs.

Critics argue that midmajor undervalues the quality and achievements of programs outside the traditional power conferences. In football, the term is less formal; the Group of Five is the standard descriptor for non‑power conferences, while midmajor remains more common in basketball.