KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Central Missouri Mules are ranked in the 2026-27 NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Division II Preseason Top-25 Poll, announced on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
 
The Mules received 112 points in the 19^th spot of the poll, while the Washburn Ichabods were the only other MIAA school in the top 25, checking in at number two with 362 points.
 
Central Missouri is one of five teams from the Central Region ranked in the top 25, along with Minnesota State (No. 9, 198 points), Oklahoma Baptist (No. 12, 181 points), and St. Cloud State (No. 22, 95 points). Minnesota Duluth (22 points), Missouri Western (17 points), Missouri Southern (10 points), and Fort Hays State (one point) are all receiving votes in the poll.
 
The Mules begin the 2026-27 campaign at the 2026 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, as they will take on the defending national champion No. 3 Gannon Golden Knights at 10:00 a.m. (CST) on Saturday, Nov. 7, before taking on No. 8 Cal State East Bay Pioneers at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, inside Jenkins Fieldhouse on the campus of Florida Southern University in Lakeland, Fla.
 
Central Missouri's home opener will be against Columbia College (Mo.) on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7:00 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.