Here is an interesting example of what is happening with D1 scheduling.
High-major schools are afraid to schedule any decent mid-majors, but in order to fill out their non-conference schedules, they need to play some mid-majors that they know they will beat.
Enter Big South member Gardner Webb. They just posted their non-conference schedule.
gwusports.com
They were horrendous last season, and virtually certain to be really bad in 2026-27, too. They finished 4-29 overall (2-31 vs D1), 1-15, a distant last place in the Big South. Their NET was 361. Of their only 4 wins, two were home games against non-D1 schools, Brevard and Toccoa Falls, and two were against an equally bad South Carolina State, one at home and one was at a neutral site in the Big South Tournament.
So while most mid-majors might shun playing an awful school like Gardner-Webb in 2026-27, knowing it's an RPI-killer, the high majors apparently are knocking their door down to get them on the schedule. They have SIX high-majors from the Big East, SEC, and ACC scheduled- UConn, Texas, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Georgia, and Kentucky.
High-major schools are afraid to schedule any decent mid-majors, but in order to fill out their non-conference schedules, they need to play some mid-majors that they know they will beat.
Enter Big South member Gardner Webb. They just posted their non-conference schedule.
2026-27 Men's Basketball Schedule - Gardner-Webb University Athletics
The official 2026-27 Men's Basketball schedule for the Gardner-Webb University Runnin' Bulldogs
So while most mid-majors might shun playing an awful school like Gardner-Webb in 2026-27, knowing it's an RPI-killer, the high majors apparently are knocking their door down to get them on the schedule. They have SIX high-majors from the Big East, SEC, and ACC scheduled- UConn, Texas, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Georgia, and Kentucky.
