Auriemma Warns of 'Death of Mid-Majors' in College Basketball

UConn coach says transfer portal and revenue sharing are hurting smaller programs' ability to compete.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, abstract scene of a college basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.Auriemma's warnings about the shifting landscape of college basketball highlight the growing challenges facing smaller programs as the sport evolves.Auburn Today

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma believes the rise of the transfer portal and the new revenue-sharing model in college sports will lead to the 'death of the mid-majors' in college basketball. Auriemma argues that coaches are prioritizing experienced college players over high school recruits, often taking those players from mid-major programs, which will make it increasingly difficult for smaller schools to compete at the highest levels.

Why it matters

Auriemma's comments highlight the growing concerns about the competitive balance in college basketball, as the top programs continue to consolidate talent through the transfer portal. This could have significant implications for the sport, potentially reducing the number of Cinderella stories and making it harder for mid-major programs to reach the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Auriemma pointed to the importance of experience while on the recruiting trail, noting that coaches are now more likely to prioritize current college players via the transfer portal over high school players. He said this trend is largely turning to the mid-major level to find those experienced players, which hurts the talent pool for those programs.

  • Auriemma made these comments on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, who has led the Huskies to 11 national championships.

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What they’re saying

“The portal and the revenue share, I think that was the death of the mid-majors, the death of high school players coming to play college basketball. It's never been harder for a high school kid to have the same opportunities that an existing college player already has.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Women's Basketball

“When your choice is, go get a high school senior or go get a college sophomore for your team, a lot of coaches are deciding that getting a college sophomore is way better. The place where they usually go to get them is a mid-major. So you're going to see less and less of those mid-majors competing in the NCAA tournament.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Women's Basketball

What’s next

Auriemma suggested that the NCAA could create a new path for mid-major programs to make the NCAA Tournament by keeping teams out of the field if they have a losing record in conference play. He cited the example of Miami (OH) going 31-1 this season, while Auburn made the tournament with a 17-16 overall record and 7-11 conference mark.

The takeaway

Auriemma's comments highlight the growing challenges facing mid-major programs in college basketball, as the top teams continue to consolidate talent through the transfer portal. This could lead to a further widening of the competitive gap between the haves and have-nots, potentially reducing the number of Cinderella stories that make the NCAA Tournament each year.