​In the 2025 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament, Furman stunned Hofstra on penalties after 110 minutes of a six-goal thriller, but the Mid-Major Madness Reacts Survey gave the Pride the edge in style points. Hofstra was voted as having the best mid-major soccer kits with 39% of the vote, while Furman trailed with 22%. Hofstra’s blue kit features white pinstripes and a white “Hofstra” wordmark across the chest, while its white kit displays thin horizontal blue stripes with the wordmark in blue across the chest. The Pride wore the white version in their upset over No. 1 Vermont in the NCAA Tournament, defeating the reigning champions in overtime to reach the third round, where Furman would eventually knock them out.
Hofstra’s success continued its tradition of strong performances, marking the program’s fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance on the heels of a 7-1 record in CAA play. Led by head coach Richard Nuttall since 1989, Hofstra is regarded as one of the premier mid-major programs in college soccer. Readers favored Hofstra’s straightforward aesthetic, rating it the best look among mid-majors. Furman’s kit, by comparison, is more intricate and varied. The kit used by Furman in their NCAA quarterfinal victory over Portland featured a white-to-purple gradient with the Furman logo placed in the standard top-right position. Later, at the College Cup Semifinals, Furman unveiled a black-and-purple horizontal striped kit, with the “Furman” wordmark tucked inside one of the stripes. The Paladins ultimately lost that semifinal 3-1 to Washington, a team that went on to win the national championship against NC State.
Furman’s program is steered by the legendary coach Dan Allison, who has amassed more than 350 wins since taking the helm in 1995. The survey also highlighted other programs with notable support, including Old Dominion, Vermont, and High Point, which tied for third place with 11% of the vote, while Western Michigan earned 6%. The current power dynamics in men’s college soccer continue to tilt toward mid-major programs, especially when assessed by conference alignment rather than traditional power conferences. In recent seasons, programs such as Saint Louis, Furman, Vermont, Marshall, and Denver have advanced to the College Cup, underscoring the rising prominence of mid-majors in the sport.
Looking at broader trends, last year’s NCAA men’s soccer Sweet 16 featured nine mid-major programs. The 2026 MLS SuperDraft also reflected this shift, with seven of the top 20 picks coming from mid-major programs. The 2026 FIFA World Cup included 12 former mid-major players, among them notable names like Canadian fullback Richie Laryea (Akron), American center back Tim Ream (Saint Louis), and American goalkeeper Matt Freese (Harvard). For fans and bettors seeking coverage on college sports, FanDuel remains a resource for betting needs, with content tailored to mid-major storylines and the evolving landscape of college soccer.