Hood College men’s basketball will enter the 2026-27 season with the highest national ranking in program history.
The Blazers, who play at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, are ranked No. 3 in the D3hoops.com Men’s Basketball Preseason Top 25, trailing only No. 1 Mary Washington and No. 2 Christopher Newport.
The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country. This marks the 28th season of the national Division III poll.
Hood received 484 points in the preseason voting, placing the Blazers ahead of No. 4 Emory, No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus and No. 6 Illinois Wesleyan. Fellow Maryland programs Johns Hopkins and Catholic also received recognition, with Johns Hopkins ranked No. 22 and Catholic receiving votes.
The historic preseason ranking follows a record-setting 2025-26 season for Hood. The Blazers finished 26-4 overall and 13-1 in conference play, won the MAC Commonwealth Championship and earned the first two NCAA Tournament victories in program history.
Hood’s NCAA Tournament run reached the Sweet Sixteen before ending on the road against defending national champion Trinity College (Connecticut). During the season, Hood climbed as high as No. 10 in the NCAA’s NPI ratings and finished ranked No. 15 in the D3hoops.com Top 25. The Blazers also established numerous program offensive records.
Hood will open its season on Friday, November 6, when the Blazers host Notre Dame of Maryland in the Rotary Tip-Off Tournament at Woodsboro Bank Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30pm.
Before the game, Hood will unveil its MAC Commonwealth championship banner and hold a ring ceremony honoring last season’s championship team.
