1. Indiana Wesleyan

Notes: The Wildcats climb into the No. 1 spot in the first regular season top 25 after a perfect 5-0 start to the season. Through those first five games of the season, IWU hasn't trailed more than five points in any game. The scoring has been well-rounded thus far, with 106 of the team's 436 total points coming off the bench. Caedmon Bontrager leads the team in scoring with 107 points, 40 more points than Julius Gizzi, who sits second in scoring on the team. With a 19.4 scoring margin, IWU continues to find open guys around the floor to knock down shots. 

Up Next: Indiana Wesleyan will have one game at home against Goshen (Ind.) on Nov. 19 before hitting the road for a trip to Taylor (Ind.) on Nov. 22.

2. Arizona Christian

Notes: ACU has been tested early this season, overcoming a deficit in every game but one. Their one loss: a single point at the Remmy Williams Classic against Georgetown (Ky.). The Firestorm's presence in the paint has been solid through six games, as they have scored 214 points. The bench for ACU has also been a big contributing factor, scoring 108. Ese Onakpoma leads the team in points (111), points per game (18.5), three-point percentage (53.8), and minutes, averaging 30.5 per game

Up Next: ACU stays at home for a little bit when Bushnell (Ore.) and OUAZ (Ariz.) come to town on Nov. 14 and 20. The Firestorm will hit the road for one trip to Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) on Nov. 22 before returning home on the 25th for a meeting with Eastern Oregon.

3. Northwestern (Iowa)

Notes: The Red Raiders have been playing well under first-year head coach Kooima. NWC is outscoring opponents by an average of 18.4 points and shooting at or above 50% from all areas of the floor. Jesse Van Kalsbeek has shown early to be the leader for the Red Raiders, leading the team in points (155), points per game (31), field goals made (61), rebounds (62), rebounds per game (12.4), and assists (22). NWC has also been holding opponents to a sub-500 shooting percentage from the floor and beyond the arc.

Up Next: The Red Raiders will have a pair of road games coming up when they open the Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule at Doane (Neb.) on Nov. 15, followed by a matchup against rival Dordt (Iowa) on the 19th.

4. Grace (Ind.)

Notes: The Lancers are off to a stellar 5-0 start to the season, having only trailed in two of those games early in the game before pushing their lead back out to double-digits. Junior Ian Raasch and freshman Gavin Betten have been leading the charge for Grace through five games, scoring 77 and 76 points, respectively. Both Raasch and Betten sit first or second in several statistical categories, including rebounds, made field goals, and average points per game. Grace is positive in both scoring and rebound margins, while forcing an average of two more opponent turnovers per game than they are giving up.

Up Next: The Lancers will welcome Taylor (Ind.) into Winona Lake on Nov. 19 before they hit the road for a pair of games on Nov. 22 at Saint Francis (Ind.) and Nov. 25 at IU Columbus (Ind.).

5. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)

Notes: FHU is off to a 4-1 start this season, with their one defeat coming at the hands of the Life (Ga.) Running Eagles on the road. The Lions have been dominant in the paint and received a lot of assistance off the bench with 216 and 198 points, respectively. Sam Powel is shown early to be the leader in several categories, including rebounds per game (5.6), points (77), and points per game (15.4). Statistically, Freed-Hardeman has also not allowed opponents a chance to stay in games, outscoring them by an average of 25 points and forcing them to turn the ball over an average of 6.6 more times per game than they have.

Up Next: The Lions have five games scheduled before the second Top 25 poll is released. They will take on LSU Shreveport (La.) at home on Friday, then travel to them on Nov. 24. FHU will also be hitting the road for games against Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) on Nov. 15, Harrist-Stowe (Mo.) on Nov. 18, and at Central Baptist (Ark.) on Nov. 21.

6. Montana Tech

Notes: With a perfect 5-0 record, the Orediggers are playing well early. Outscoring opponents by an average of 13.8 points per game, their closest game to this point was a three-point victory against Eastern Oregon in the season opener. They have since taken down No. 14 SOU and (RV) Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) at the time. Montana Tech is coming down with an average of five more boards per game than its opponents, as Hayden Diekhans leads the way with 8.8 per game.

Up Next: The Orediggers have three games scheduled before the Nov. 26 poll release. They will welcome Northwest (Wash.) to Butte on Nov. 14 for a tip-off at 5 p.m. local time. They will then hit the road for a trip to North Dakota, marking the start of Frontier Conference play on Nov. 21 and 22 against Mayville State (N.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.).

7. Langston (Okla.)

Notes: The Lions have the upper hand in the major statistical categories through five games, including scoring margin (+14), rebound margin (+6.6), and turnover margin (-2.6). Omar Henry is the leading scorer for LU, averaging 14.4 per game as he is nearly automatic from the floor, shooting 70.6 percent. As a team, the Lions are shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 27.9 percent from deep, and 73.1 percent at the charity strip.

Up Next: Langston will hit the road for two games prior to the new poll on Nov. 26, as they travel to the Lone Star State for meetings with Nelson (Texas) on Nov. 20 and Texas Wesleyan on Nov. 22.

8. Ave Maria (Fla.)

Notes: Climbing seven spots from the preseason poll, the Gyrenes have been able to cover several in-game deficits, their largest of which was 14 points against Thomas (Ga.), where they won 87-78. AMU is averaging 92.8 points per game while shooting nearly 50% from the floor. Bradley Michael and Daniele Russo lead the way for the Gyrenes in field goal percentage at 64.3 and 62.5 percent, respectively.

Up Next: AVE will have one home game on Nov. 15 against Webber International (Fla.) then hit the road for games against New College (Fla.) and Coastal Georgia on Nov. 19 and Nov. 22.

9. Life (Ga.)

Notes: A perfect 4-0 beginning to the 2025-26 season, with a staple win on the books already, rockets the Running Eagles into the top 10. Life emerged from a close game with No. 25 Keiser in the Ken Woods Memorial Classic on Oct. 31. A few days later, they took down No. 5 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.). Lions at home protecting the Eagles' Nest. Shane Stevensen and Josh Baugher have led the way in scoring and shooting percentage so far, while Stevensen and Maurice Wright are the leaders in rebounds and boards per game.

Up Next: The Running Eagles will have two home games between road trips on both sides before the second national top 25 poll is released. Life will take on Milligan (Tenn.) later this evening, Nov. 12. Then look to protect the nest against Point (Ga.) on Nov. 20 and Brewton-Parker (Ga.) on Nov. 22. The Running Eagles will pack their bags again for a trip across state lines to Alabama on Nov. 25 when they take on Talladega (Ala.).

10. Dalton State (Ga.)

Notes: The Road Runners climb eight spots in the first regular-season poll after a 4-0 start. DSU is outscoring opponents on average 98.5-73.5 or 25 points per game. The closest contest the Road Runners have had so far was a seven-point win against Johnson (Tenn.) at the Canyon's Classic back on Nov. 1. Dalton State has also been dominant on the boards with a 7.5 rebound margin. Defensively, the Road Runners cause havoc for opponents, forcing 17.3 turnovers per game, while they commit an average of only 8.8 turnovers per game.

Up Next: DSU will be road warriors through the second regular-season poll being released. Dalon State will stay within state lines, though, with games against Thomas (Ga.) on Nov. 13, Abraham Baldwin (Ga.) on Nov. 15, and Georgia Gwinnett on Nov. 25. The Road Runners will get a short break at home within that stretch when Brewton-Parker (Ga.) and Point (Ga.) come to Bandy Gym on Nov. 20 and 22.