2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects Northwestern State at #322 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of -3.9 points per 100 possessions. That's a steep projected drop from #294 last season, driven by roster turnover. This projects as a development year.
About 60% of last season's production returns, a middle-of-the-road continuity number.
Last Season (2025-26)
Northwestern State finished 2025-26 at 8-21, ranked #294 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 96.5 and adjusted defense of 118.2 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates Northwestern State
Northwestern State's power rating of -3.9 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 -3.9 means Northwestern State projects to lose to a neutral-court average team by about 3 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
Northwestern State Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. Northwestern State has trended upward over the last few seasons. Their best finish in this window was #142 in 2022-23.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | -7.7 | #286 |
| 2024-25 | -5.1 | #251 |
| 2023-24 | -12.6 | #323 |
| 2022-23 | +1.9 | #142 |
| 2021-22 | -16.5 | #337 |
| 2020-21 | -16.5 | #325 |