Each year, fans come together for March Madness, arguably the most chaotic tournament on the sporting calendar. While it’s usually the well-known schools that cut down the nets and come away with the hardware in the end, it’s the smaller schools that a casual fan has never heard of that make the tournament special with early-round fireworks. Before the festivities get underway, here’s a little bit about five teams that could be the mid-major school that makes major headlines this March.

Murray State – No. 12 seed in Regional 1

Opponent and tipoff time: No. 5 Maryland, Friday, March 20, 3 p.m. ET, on ESPNU

Champions of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season and tournament champions, the Murray State Racers (31-3, 19-1 MVC) are riding their high-powered offense into March Madness. Friday's game against Maryland will mark the third time Murray State has appeared in the NCAA Tournament and back-to-back trips after falling in the first round in 2025. The Racers will look to cap the program’s winningest season ever with a win in the Big Dance, which would be the first in school history.

In order to do so, Murray State will need to prove its high-octane offense can hold up against a power-conference opponent in Maryland. At 86.1 points per game, the Racers rank. fifth in the country in scoring offense, led by the nation’s 10th leading scorer, Halli Poock at 22.4 points per game. Poock is not alone, however, as a big-time scorer. Guards Haven Ford and Keslyn Secrist average 17.1 and 12.9 points, respectively, to form a dangerous backcourt trio. Up front, Sharnecce Currie-Jelks averages 17.7 points and 11.8 rebounds, which ranks eighth in the country. It will be an uphill battle to upset the Terrapins, but the Racers have a handful of players who can get hot and carry the scoring load and a proven presence in the frontcourt.

Haven Ford's assists per game have dropped by 1.5 this season, but she's improved her scoring average by 2.2.

Entering the tournament on a 15-game win streak, Murray State will be faced with its toughest task yet. The Racers played just one high-major opponent this season, when they fell 84-64 to Illinois, which is the No. 7 seed in Regional 1. It will require Murray State’s strongest effort of the season to be competitive, but being a top-five scoring offense in the country is not by mistake and the Racers will look to prove it on Friday.

Fairfield – No. 11 seed in Regional 1

Opponent and tipoff time: No. 6 Notre Dame, Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m. ET, on ESPN

Representing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in the NCAA Tournament for the third-consecutive season, and fourth in the last five seasons, the Fairfield Stags (28-4, 19-1 MAAC) are on the hunt for their first tournament win. The No. 11 seed is the program’s highest since it earned a No. 10 seed in 1988. The Stags were ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll entering the MAAC Tournament, marking a second-consecutive season with an appearance in the poll. MAAC championships, AP Poll rankings and regular-season accolades have been aplenty for Fairfield in recent years, but now it looks to get it done on the national stage for the first time.

L'Amoreaux was named MAAC Player of the Year after a hyper-efficient scoring season.

Kaety L’Amoreaux is the straw that stirs the drink for coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis. The junior guard is averaging 17.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, both of which lead the team. In the frontcourt, Meghan Andersen is the only other player averaging double-figure scoring with 16 points per game. The tandem gives the Stags a solid one-two punch, but the team’s real strength is in its depth. Eight players average at least 15 minutes per game, with two falling just below the mark at 14.7 and 14.8 minutes per game. Having 10 players that can be trusted in a tournament setting could be key for Fairfield looking to get its first tournament win.

Three of the Stags’ four losses have come to teams in the tournament: No. 4 North Carolina, No. 2 Iowa and No. 14 Howard. The lone conference loss was to Quinnipiac, who also went 19-1 in the MAAC and earned a share of the regular-season title. Fairfield has been tested against tournament teams and held up fairly well, and now has the opportunity for its long-awaited national breakthrough.

Rhode Island – No. 11 seed in Regional 3

Opponent and tipoff time: No. 6 Alabama, Saturday, March 21, 2:30 p.m. ET, on ESPNEWS

For the first time since 1996, the Rhode Island Rams are putting on their dancing shoes after winning the Atlantic 10 (A10) Tournament, looking for their first tournament win ever. With a 28-4 overall record and 16-2 in the A10, the Rams earned a share of the regular-season title and clinched the league’s automatic-bid with a win over George Mason. In her seventh year as Rhode Island’s head coach, former WNBA player Tammi Reiss has finally reached the NCAA Tournament in the program’s fourth winning season in her tenure. The Rams dethroned Richmond, which has won the conference tournament each of the last two seasons. Still, the Spiders were also included in the field, but will play in the First Four as one of the last four teams in the field.

It’s all about defense for Reiss’ group, and her team has got it done on that end all season. Allowing just 53.6 points per game, Rhode Island is the sixth-ranked scoring defense in the country, leaning on its ability to take offenses out of rhythm to win games. With four guards all averaging better than a steal per game, the Rams will look to turn Alabama over to earn extra possessions. It ranks just 144th in scoring offense, but hasn’t needed much more thanks to the defense.

Richmond earning an at-large bid speaks to the strength of the A10 this season, meaning the Rams are well prepared for more high-major competition. In three games against high-majors early in the season, Rhode Island fell narrowly to Rutgers on the road, won at then No. 16 ranked and now seventh-seeded North Carolina State, and at Providence. In addition to the win at North Carolina State, the Rams beat Holy Cross, which is a 15 seed in the tournament and Richmond, which is an 11 seed. A narrow loss to now No. 9 seed Princeton further emphasized that Rhode Island is ready to compete with anyone. It will get its chance to do so Saturday against Alabama.

Miami (OH) – No. 13 seed in Regional 3

Opponent and tipoff time: No. 4 West Virginia, Saturday, March 21, 5 p.m. ET, on ESPNU

On Selection Sunday, one Miami (OH) basketball team was sweating during the selection show, the other was not. Despite media attention focusing primarily on the men’s team after it lost in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament, spoiling an undefeated season, it was the women’s team which sat comfortably as an automatic-qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. The Redhawks (28-6, 16-2 MAC) shared the league regular-season championship then won the conference tournament to punch their ticket for just the second time in program history and will fight for the program’s first tournament win on Saturday.

A balanced attack offensively is the key for Miami, and it will need a handful of its leaders to step up on that end. Amber Tretter is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Redhawks, averaging 14.4 points and 8.2 rebounds. Ilse de Vries joins her in the frontcourt pitching in 12.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. The leading scorer in the backcourt is Amber Scalia at 13.7 points per game, but Tamar Singer is the key name to watch. The sophomore guard is the fourth-leading scorer at 10.9 points per game, but more importantly, is fifth in the nation with 7.1 assists per game. Having a guard who can generate easy looks for others against West Virginia’s size and physicality will be crucial if Miami wants to have a chance.

The Redhawks own one win over a high-major program this season, having defeated Cincinnati. In two matchups with tournament teams, Miami went 1-1, losing 75-55 at now No. 10 seed Colorado and beating now No. 13 seed Green Bay 66-50. After a great season flying under the radar because of the men’s success, the Redhawks will have a chance to cause chaos and look to upset West Virginia.

Princeton – No. 9 seed in Regional 4

Opponent and tipoff time: No. 8 Oklahoma State, Saturday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, on ESPN2

The dominant run continues in the Ivy League for Princeton (26-3, 12-2 Ivy League) as the Tigers are making their 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 16 years. Having been ranked as high as No. 19 in the AP Poll during the season, Princeton is on a bit of a revenge tour after sneaking into the NCAA Tournament last season after surrendering the Ivy League Tournament championship to Harvard. Now, it looks to reassert itself as the top Ivy League team and get back to winning on the biggest stage as it has done most recently in 2022 and 2023 with first-round victories.

Embracing the modern “small-ball” era, each of the Tigers’ leading minute-getters are listed as guards. This can be a blessing and a curse in a tournament setting. Having seven players who you trust handling the ball is a major advantage for a head coach, but with high-major opponents looming, Princeton will need to be extremely physical on the interior. Five players average double-figure scoring for the Tigers, led by Madison St. Rose’s 15.7 points per game. The standout statistic for the team, however, is the combined 9.6 steals per game. Against Oklahoma State, and likely UCLA should it advance, the seven guards forcing turnovers on the perimeter at a high rate would be a huge advantage for Princeton as it looks to overcome a size deficit.

In games against programs in the Big Ten, Big East and ACC this season, the Tigers posted a 5-1 record, with the lone loss coming to now No. 5 seed Maryland, and namely a win over now No. 10 seed Villanova. Princeton also defeated now No. 11 seed Rhode Island early in the season. The Tigers have been tested versus high-major competition not only this season, but in recent NCAA Tournaments, and will now have a chance to get back to winning ways in the Big Dance.

Fans can choose their favorite mid-major in 5wins Brackets, along with your picks for the Final Four.