Jax State Men’s Basketball Ranked Seventh in 2025-26 Conference USA
Jacksonville State’s men’s basketball team is set to begin the 2025-26 season with a ranking of seventh in Conference USA, as determined by a preseason poll conducted among the league’s twelve head coaches. The poll results were revealed on Wednesday, highlighting the anticipated performance of the upcoming season.
Preseason Rankings Overview
The defending Conference USA champion, Liberty, tops the rankings with 143 points, securing 11 of 12 possible first-place votes. Below are the top contenders in the preseason poll:
- 1. Liberty (11 votes) – 143 points
- 2. Kennesaw State (1 vote) – 126 points
- 3. New Mexico State – 113 points
- 4. Middle Tennessee – 103 points
- 5. Louisiana Tech – 82 points
- 6. Western Kentucky – 79 points
- 7. Jacksonville State – 67 points
- 8. UTEP – 66 points
- 9. Sam Houston – 56 points
- 10. FIU – 36 points
- 11. Delaware – 35 points
- 12. Missouri State – 30 points
Jacksonville State’s Roster Changes
Last season, Jacksonville State finished as the Conference USA tournament runner-up and made its inaugural appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. However, the team has experienced significant roster changes heading into the new season. Twelve newcomers will join the squad, along with several returnees.
Key returning players include:
- Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. – missed the previous season due to injury.
- Jamar Franklin – started 14 games before being sidelined by an injury.
- Aidan Driggers – another valuable returning player.
Notable Newcomers
A standout among the new arrivals is Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, a 6-foot-6 guard who has been selected for the preseason All-CUSA team. Transferring from Louisiana, he excelled in the Sun Belt Conference last season, leading his team in scoring with an average of 14.5 points and in rebounding with 5.2 boards per game. He shot 46% from the field and started 30 of 33 games played.
Upcoming Season Schedule
Jacksonville State will kick off their season at home on November 3rd against NAIA opponent Oakwood from Huntsville. Fans are eager to see how the reshaped roster performs in the coming season.
