2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects James Madison at #137 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +0.9 points per 100 possessions. That's a major climb from #224 a season ago, one of the bigger projected rises in the country. The projection makes this team a factor in its conference race.
Only 15% of last season's minutes return, so this roster will look very different. Expect some early-season volatility while new pieces settle in. The program adds 1 incoming recruit to the mix.
Last Season (2025-26)
James Madison finished 2025-26 at 17-15, ranked #224 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 106.6 and adjusted defense of 114.5 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates James Madison
James Madison's power rating of +0.9 is an adjusted efficiency margin: the points per 100 possessions the model expects them to outscore an average Division I team by, once you strip out schedule strength. It combines adjusted offensive efficiency, adjusted defensive efficiency, and pace into one number, so a rating of +0.9 means James Madison projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 1 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
James Madison Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. James Madison's rating has slipped compared to a few seasons ago. Their best finish in this window was #7 in 2023-24.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | -4.5 | #216 |
| 2024-25 | -1.0 | #183 |
| 2023-24 | +21.1 | #7 |
| 2022-23 | +9.7 | #57 |
| 2021-22 | -4.4 | #231 |
| 2020-21 | +5.5 | #84 |