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These are the best universities in the world for 2023 – and the balance is shifting

With Saudi Arabia and UAE featuring in the list of the best universities in the world by Times Higher Education, we await a new renaissance driven by innovation and knowledge creation, backed by investment. Image:  Photo by Pixabay

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• The US share of the 100 best universities in the world is declining, while that of East Asian nations and universities in the Middle East is on the up.
• Saudi Arabia and UAE are leading what some call a new renaissance driven by innovation and knowledge creation, backed by investment.
• Fears remain that rising geopolitical tensions and mistrust hamper global research excellence.

The geopolitics of knowledge is shifting. The 19th annual edition of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings , published on 12 October, demonstrates an accelerating trend: the US’s share of the world’s top 100 universities is declining, while that of East Asian nations, led by China, and universities in the Middle East is on the rise.

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In 2018, the US boasted close to half of the world’s top 100 positions in the world rankings, with 43 universities. In today’s edition, the US has just 34, as household names like Dartmouth College, and great regional powerhouse universities including Ohio State and Michigan State lose their top 100 status.

Meanwhile, mainland China’s share of the world top 100 positions has risen from just two in 2018, to an impressive seven today. Hong Kong has a further five top 100 institutions, up from just three in 2018.

South Korea has three top 100 places, up from two in 2018. Singapore and Japan both takes two top 100 places each.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are leading what some are calling a new renaissance driven by innovation and knowledge creation, backed by heavy investment. Saudi’s King Abdulaziz University is one of the fastest-rising universities in the world, rocketing to 101st position this year from 190th last year, and the Kingdom is the most improved nation, by national average score, in the world rankings this year. In the UAE, of the six UAE universities included in the overall world rankings for 2023, five are on the rise – led by the United Arab Emirates University and the University of Sharjah, which have both surged this year into the world's top 300 list.

Shifts in global innovation and knowledge economy

The Times Higher Education’s (THE) world ranking has become a closely watched barometer of the shifts in the global innovation and knowledge economy, supporting governments policymaking and university leaders’ strategic decisions, as well as supporting millions of internationally-mobile students to decide on who to trust with their education.

The World University Rankings are based on 13 separate performance metrics , covering the full range of internationally-focussed research universities’ core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. The 2023 edition is based on an analysis of over 15.5 million research publications – and over 112 million citations to those publications – as well as a survey of more than 40,000 academics worldwide on the international academic reputation of each school, on top of data on institutional income and faculty demographics, including international talent recruitment and research collaboration.

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So, should the data be a cause for alarm for the US and its Western allies in an increasingly polarised world? No, says Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at the University of Oxford, because there are simply more outstanding universities in the world and a rising tide lifts all boats.

“There’s no evidence that US research is weakening in an absolute sense,” Marginson told Times Higher Education. “This continues to be the most prestigious system in the world.”

But where there is cause for mounting concern is in the fear that increasing geopolitical tensions and mistrust means the world as a whole does not fully benefit from the overall boom in global research excellence, as systems retreat into nationalism and knowledge sharing shrinks back.

For example, while China’s universities excel and rise up the rankings, their scores for international research collaboration and their share of international talent are in decline. “It would be regrettable if the growth of foreigners working in higher education in China has stopped as the engagement is good for everyone,” Marginson told THE. “However, it would be unsurprising, as we are now in a more conflictual era in the geopolitics of higher education.”

Top of the (university) class

Top of the World University Rankings for the seventh consecutive year, is a university renowned for its international knowledge sharing – the UK’s University of Oxford. Oxford is followed by Harvard University in second, while the University of Cambridge (up from 5th) and Stanford University (up from 4th) share third place. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology holds fifth place.

In a further nod to the US decline, the University of Chicago has lost its world top-10 place, falling to 13th, with the UK’s Imperial College London taking its place, moving up from 12th last year, to 10th in 2023.

Oxford’s vice chancellor Louise Richardson said in a statement: “My colleagues and I are absolutely delighted that for the seventh consecutive year Oxford has been named the top university in the world. I am very grateful to those who work on compiling these rankings which prove so helpful to universities. Above all, I am indebted to the extraordinary women and men of Oxford whose research and teaching continues to excite our imaginations, broaden our horizons, cure disease and explore deeply difficult problems for the betterment of society. I am so proud to be associated with them.”

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World University Rankings: Times Higher Education (THE) 2022

Discover the top universities in the times higher education (the) world university rankings 2022.

Since its first edition in 2010, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) has been one of the most reliable university rankings in the world and a great resource for international students who seek to study abroad at world-class universities .

What’s the Times Higher Education World University Rankings?

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is the largest and most diverse global university ranking . Its 2022 ranking edition includes more than 1,600 universities across 99 countries.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 table is based on 13 performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Are university rankings important?

The THE World University Rankings can help you sort your options and make you aware of universities you may not have otherwise heard of! It is compiled on the basis of its own list of factors taken into consideration.

At the same time, university rankings should be used together with additional research of each university or school so you can make an informed choice about where to go based on your own preferences.

It’s important to note that these tools aren’t the only measure of how appropriate the university or school may be for you; it’s just one of the elements to consider.

How can you use the university rankings to shortlist universities?

You can further analyse a university on the basis of country/region , course/program and your preferred subject. If you wish to study astronomy, look for universities that rank higher in your preferred field of study. It’s quite possible that the university ranking the highest globally may not be the best in this specific department of your choice.

Once you’ve your list of shortlisted universities, dive deeper by studying each of its curriculum, modules offered, faculties, teaching methodologies, culture, campus life, and sustainability.

What are the top 20 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022?

The table below shows the top 20 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022

Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022

Best countries in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022

According to the THE website , the below countries have the biggest number of universities/institutions in the top 200 of the THE World University Rankings 2022

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Times higher education (the) world university rankings.

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This Demonstration lets you explore the effects of the scaled indicators on the overall score in Times Higher Education (THE) world university ranking [1], which is based on the 13 performance indicators designed to assess universities in five areas: (I) teaching, (II) research, (III) research influence, (IV) industry and (V) international outlook.

The methodology used is based on the procedures described in [2]. To find the rank of a university, one needs to know the university’s total scaled score or the scaled scores of each of the indicators defined by the sliders.

The rankings are just estimated, since the calculations are based on data from previous years. You can observe this using the sliders. For example, in the 2022 ranking, Cornell University's overall score is 85.0 and its rank is 22. In the Demonstration, the estimated rank for an overall score of 85.0 is 23. As another example, the University of Copenhagen has an overall score of 62.7 and its rank is 96. In the Demonstration, the estimated rank corresponding to an overall score of 62.7 is 94.

Contributed by: Merve Samioglu   (January 2023) Open content licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

[1] Times Higher Education World University Rankings. (Nov 14, 2022) www.timeshighereducation.com .

[2] E. Siniksaran and M. H. Satman, "WURS: A Simulation Software for University Rankings," Scientometrics , 122 (1), 2020 pp. 701–717. doi:10.1007/s11192-019-03269-8 .

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Merve Samioglu "Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings" http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/TimesHigherEducationTHEWorldUniversityRankings/ Wolfram Demonstrations Project Published: January 2, 2023

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QS vs Times - Which is the Best University League Table?

DECIDING which university you would like to study at, or where you should apply, can be stressful for some people. Sometimes it’s difficult to find out the price of the course that you would like to study, or whether you could be able to get a scholarship (if you need it). It can even be hard to tell if the university you have been thinking of applying to has a good reputation.

Many people use university league tables to find the best universities they can apply for. Two of the most popular for international students are the QS University Rankings , or the ones from the Times Higher Education (THE). However, there are differences between these world league tables, and some people benefit more from one than from the other.

Types of university league table

There are two main types of league table. First, you will find general rankings of all universities in the world, which can be listed in order of reputation, subject expertise, best faculties, or best location. Then, you will find regional ranking tables that focus on a specific geographical area, like the ones ranking universities from the BRICS, Arab, Emerging Economies, Asian, EECA or Latin American regions. Both QS and the Times have a selection of international and regional tables; the former has the highest number of rankings, with 9 types, whereas the latter has 6.

The World Tables

Both QS and the Times have an international, world ranking for universities – but they use different methodologies for creating them. This can drastically change the results, and consequently, your choice of university.

For QS, the most important variable seems to be academic reputation, which carries a weighting of 40% in their World Rankings, and 30% in their Regional rankings. For the Times, their Academic Reputation Survey takes up slightly less of the weighting in their World Rankings, at 32%. This means that, if reputation is high on your list of priorities, QS could be the better option.

There are also differences for the remaining 60-70% of the result. To complete their ranking, QS looks at a university’s faculty-to-student ratio, the number of times its faculty are cited in academic publications, employer reputation, and the ratio of international to native students. By comparison, the Times uses more indicators like industry income (or ‘knowledge transfer’), international outlook and research productivity. This arguably makes the Times league table better for those interested in universities that are innovative and multi-cultural, as well as prestigious.

The 50 Under 50 League Table

The Times and QS rankings for universities less than 50 years old are very valuable for those people who seek for good education but at a lower price, as young universities tend to charge lower fees. But which table is better?

The Times methodology uses the same 13 indicators as their World Rankings, but they adjust the criteria to show the special characteristics of younger universities; for example, they give less weight to academic reputation. On the other hand, QS league table of universities under 50 years old does uses the same methodology as their World Rankings. This means that newer universities could be poorly represented in the QS table, as their system does not highlight the strengths that usually attract people to young schools rather than their older, more well-known rivals.

The Regional Tables

Another ranking that both institutions have in common is the one for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). In this case, it seems that both institutions have followed the same path. The Times has used the same 13 indicators, but have given less weight to research excellence due to less mature research systems in developing countries. They have also given more weight to international outlook and industry links. This seems to be the same approach as QS: their BRIC table takes less notice of citations and papers written per faculty, but more notice of employer reputation, which accounts for 20% of the weighting. In this regard, both BRICS tables are very similar.

QS has more regional league tables than the Times, like ones exclusive for the Arab Region, EECA (Emerging Europe and Central Asia), Latin America, and even one for Best Student City. This could give QS the edge if you want to see the rankings for universities in a particular country, or want to know more about its location.

Which is better - QS vs Times?

It seems that the league tables from the Times, in general, have better methodologies than QS; especially for their ranking of universities under 50 years old. However, QS has more tables to look at, giving you more insight into specific courses, regions and developing countries. If you want a general, international overview, the Times has its strengths – but QS has the upper hand if you want to look up something niche.

One thing seems to be absolutely true about these league tables: reputation is the main factor that decides whether a university will be top of the ranking or not. It’s important to remember this. While reputation can be important, it won’t be the only thing that makes a university a good fit for you– and just because a university is less well-known does not mean it will be any less worthwhile.

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World University Rankings

Microproject overview.

There are hundreds of organizations that rank universities, including US News and World Report, QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE), and many others.

The Times Higher Education (THE) provides a clean, well-documented CSV that includes their rankings based on the "performance data on universities for students and their families, academics, university leaders, governments and industry". Their 2020 dataset includes almost 1,400 universities across 92 countries and includes 13 performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. Their website with additional details on this dataset is found here: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/content/world-university-rankings

In this MicroProject, you will explore basic DataFrame operations on the Times Higher Education university rankings.

Data Science Skills

In this microproject, you will explore the world university rankings dataset and strengthen the following Data Science skills:

• Importing data into a DataFrame from a CSV file using df.read_csv
• Using conditionals to find a subset of data in a DataFrame using df[df.Country == "United States"]
• Using and resetting the index value of a DataFrame using df.index and df.reset_index
• Selecting a random sample from a DataFrame using df.sample

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In your terminal, navigate to your GitHub repository and merge the initial files by running the following commands:

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If the commands above were successful, you have merged in the initial files to start on the MicroProject.

• Find the new microproject-world-university-rankings folder.
• Open microproject-world-university-rankings.ipynb and complete the MicroProject!

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Amy Paterson

March 21st, 2024, what rankings ignore about african-based medical training.

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Medical education in Africa involves a unique blend of cultural, community, and hands-on training – so why is it so undervalued in university rankings? LSE HE Blog Fellow Amy Paterson reflects on the reasons – and what needs to change

Young hands in a South African hospital

It is 3am and I am staring at the quivering vocal cords of a preterm baby. I slide a tiny tube through the cords and breathe out as the phone rings. The nurse takes the call. I squeeze some medication down the tube to help the baby’s new lungs expand, and a bag helps me temporarily take over the baby’s breathing, distributing the medication to the tips of the lungs.

“Emergency C-section, they’ll meet you in theatre,” the nurse offers me a sympathetic glance as we complete the task. 

The small hospital theatre is calm as I check the anaesthetic machine and scrub up to my elbows. I speak quietly to the patient in the local language (isiZulu) and then insert the spinal needle. It is our third C-section of the night. I nod to the surgeon. We started this job together, now both three years out of medical school. His eyes betray a youthfulness you would not assume watching his gloved hands skillfully make the incision.

As we wheel mum and baby through to the recovery room, my phone lights up again. A patient in the surgical ward needs his chest drain reinserted. I check in with the neonatal nurse about the preterm baby on my way past. The night air gives way to sunrise without a witness.

Intentional training

Years later, when I attempt to explain to my international medical colleagues what an average shift looked like as a junior doctor in my hometown, they invariably describe the level of responsibility and scope of practice as horrifying or inconceivable. But at no point that night did I think my experience was either of those things. I had been trained to contextually understand the tasks at hand and perform them as safely as possible, just like my peers across the country and its borders.

Only later, on entering an international health education arena, did I realise how intentionally I had been trained with healthcare provision for under-served communities in mind. Despite the shortcomings in our systems, this training continues to be an exceptional feat and a testament to the dedication of many African-based medical educators.

Absent recognition

The African continent currently faces a triple burden of disease, with increasing rates of non-communicable diseases in addition to communicable diseases and injuries. But it also has the lowest healthcare worker density in the world, with only 29% of the medical doctors required to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) minimum standard . This means that more advanced competencies need to be taught to generalist clinicians, often early in training , a challenge rarely faced by medical schools in high-income settings.

However, the existing literature on African medical training primarily examines its weaknesses. These include valid concerns about keeping up with advances in care and best evidence, under-investment in human resourcing and infrastructure, additional load due to cultural competency courses, variation in supervision between facilities and outdated pedagogy . These continue to be patient safety issues and contribute to the high rates of morbidity and mortality in the region. 

But, while these factors are being actively worked on, the unique strengths and competencies of African medical graduates and institutions deserve equal recognition.

The strengths of African-based training

Medical education that is responsive to extensive community need is no easy task, nor is it taken lightly. In 2023, there were 444 medical schools in Africa – many of which were established in direct response to health workforce shortages . The curricula in these universities are constantly being adapted to better serve the shifting needs of the populations, including adoption of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) and Problem-Based Learning (PBL).

In many of the curricula, focus is placed on social responsiveness, with training prioritising the needs of more vulnerable community groups and equipping graduates to be competent rural primary care practitioners . This primary care focus ensures strong knowledge of common conditions in the region, such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. This differs from many traditionally prestigious medical schools, which prioritise cutting-edge research, complex diagnoses and advanced treatment methods. 

A growing number of programmes feature cultural competency training and courses to learn medical terminology in local languages . Given the diversity of languages in many contexts, this component is critical for patient communication and experience, but is no small addition. Programmes also aim to foster critical consciousness – a commitment to addressing issues of societal relevance in health care.

African-led health research is on the rise, allowing local actors to determine their own research priorities. This research also tends to have a strong sense of social responsiveness. Rwanda’s University of Global Health Equity was developed for this explicit purpose. The shift to more African research hubs also means the continent has a growing cohort of clinician-scientists, passionate about addressing the issues they witness in clinical practice. Innovations in education and health-tech are also on the rise. For example, Tunisia developed a high-tech medical simulation centre to teach technical clinical procedures during Covid-19.

Breadth and depth of experience are a major contributor to Africa’s capable medical workforce

Finally, there is strength to be found in the clinical competency of African-trained graduates – the breadth and depth of experience are a major contributor to Africa’s capable medical workforce. Training in these settings not only hones practical skills, but also clinical examination and judgement by removing the possibility of reliance on investigations (such as CT scans and MRIs, which may be less available). Adaptability is fostered as graduates learn to work effectively in low-resource settings.

The gap in practical competencies between graduates from Africa and their high-income peers is most frequently noted in reviews of medical elective and exchange programmes. These organised programmes offer medical students and professionals an opportunity to work in different healthcare settings, often with a focus on hands-on experience. The literature describes the benefits of African-based electives for improving the clinical skills of high-income country trainees from a range of disciplines and levels .

Rank unfairness

Thanks to the strengths of African medical education described above, the continent is producing many capable, adaptable, and dedicated doctors. While these doctors often work in adverse conditions, their skill sets, and the training that produced them, should not be under-acknowledged.

However, the lack of recognition of African-based medical education in the literature is also reflected in university rankings. Of the 444 existing African medical schools, only one institution made it into the top 100 in both the Times Higher Education and QS field-specific rankings. One reason for this is that the scoring metrics for these rankings (which are portrayed as globally relevant) largely represent the priorities of high-income countries.

No clear reason is given as to why the metrics aren’t internationally relevant

These priorities include citations and internationalism rather than responsiveness to local need. Times Higher Education has attempted to address this by creating a separate ranking for Sub-Saharan African universities, which includes societal impact and ethical leadership as metrics. While this separate approach proves the feasibility of including such metrics, no clear reason is given as to why the metrics aren’t internationally relevant. Serious consideration needs to be given either to the inclusion of social responsiveness and competency metrics in international rankings of medical schools, or to the global legitimacy of these rankings.

In the interim, acknowledgement of health educators across the African continent is due through international platforms and initiatives. Their ongoing dedication helps to ensure that graduating healthcare professionals are not only clinically competent, but also critically conscious of the contexts in which they serve.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ This post is opinion-based and does not reflect the views of the London School of Economics and Political Science or any of its constituent departments and divisions.    _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Main image: Francisco Venâncio on Unsplash

About the author

Amy Paterson is a South African medical doctor and a PhD student in the Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, UK

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‘Unease’ among China scholars as Japan-based academic disappears

Scholars are growing increasingly wary of conducting research on and in china as the country strengthens national security laws.

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The disappearance of an academic has renewed concerns about the safety of scholars specialising in China, as Beijing tightens national security laws.

Hu Shiyun, a professor of Chinese language at Japan’s Kobe Gakuin University , has not been seen since he returned to China, his home country, for a visit last summer. According to local media, neither his family nor the university has heard from him since.

Although relatively little is known about Professor Hu’s disappearance, parallels are being drawn with similar cases, such as that of Yuan Keqin, a Chinese national and former history professor at the Hokkaido University of Education in Japan. The academic was attending a funeral in China in 2019 when he was  detained by authorities on suspicion of espionage . The public were still calling for his release as recently as May 2023, when the foreign ministry declined to provide an update.

Similarly, Zhu Jianrong, another Chinese professor working at a Japanese university – in this case specialising in Sino-Japanese relations – was thought to have been detained by authorities on espionage charges in 2013. 

Under Xi Jinping, China has strengthened its national security laws, including passing the revised Counter-Espionage Law in 2023, which, according to Eva Seiwert, a researcher at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg ’s Institute for Political Science, “further widens the scope to arrest foreigners, including academics, or their Chinese contacts on espionage charges”. 

Beijing’s increasing focus on national security continues to cause “unease” among China-focused academics, she added, with cases like Professor Yuan’s, although “relatively rare”, contributing “to a sense of apprehension”. 

And, as China has grown more stringent, the definition of what constitutes a security risk has become “much more expansive”, said Antoine Roth, a researcher on Sino-Japanese relations at the University of Tokyo. He said Professor Yuan’s case was a “wake-up call” for some academics, as “it was very difficult to fathom that this person was engaged in some sort of spying”.

While China’s national security laws have international implications, Japan is a specific target of the crackdown, according to Dr Roth, in part due to the country’s close relationship with the US, as well as its history as a “place of refuge” for Chinese citizens dissatisfied with the government. 

There is a “very long history of Chinese…thinkers that are not aligned with the Chinese state gathering in Japan and sharing their ideas and talking about plans for a new, different vision of China”, he said. 

“Any kind of such activity for the CCP today is a very big target of suspicion and…the state under Xi Jinping has become extremely paranoid about this kind of thing.”

This, as well as Japan’s own enhanced national security strategy, “has led some academics to rethink and to have to be more careful in the way they engage, especially in the science and technology field, with their counterparts in China”, said Dr Roth. 

Internationally, some scholars are becoming  more wary about conducting research  on China, with some refraining altogether, according to Dr Seiwert. 

Asked about Professor Hu at a press conference, a spokesperson from China’s foreign ministry said they were unaware of the case. “It’s very likely that we won’t get any explanation for many months, if ever,” said Dr Roth. 

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Power ranking all 68 teams in the men's 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket based on March Madness odds

The 2024 March Madness men's tournament is less than a day away from starting. The First Four are just the appetizer to the main course though. Will the reigning champion UConn Huskies be able to defend their title as this year's tournament's No. 1 overall seed? Based on their championship odds, you'd be a sucker to bet against them.

That said, if you're looking for a little more bang for your buck, there is a multitude of other teams with strong championship odds. From the favorites to the sleepers to the teams with as good a chance as you and me, here is every March Madness team power ranked by 2024 NCAA championship odds.

MARCH MADNESS: Men's teams most likely to end Final Four droughts

2024 NCAA Championship odds:

Odds via BetMGM .

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

The favorites:

• UConn (+400)
• Houston (+600)
• Purdue (+650)
• Arizona (+1100)
• North Carolina (+1300)
• Tennessee (+1500)
• Auburn (+1700)
• Iowa State (+1800)

Of each of these top-tier teams, the most intriguing one is probably UNC. Despite North Carolina being a No. 1 seed in the tournament, they currently have worse championship odds than the No. 2 seed in their region, Arizona. The Tar Heels are just two years removed from participating in the NCAA Tournament finals, and two of their key players from that run -- RJ Davis and Armando Bacot -- are still on the team in 2024.

Furthermore, KenPom ranks the UNC defense as the sixth-most efficient in college basketball. UNC has had a top-11 team in terms of defensive efficiency five other times since 2005. Of those five trips, three resulted in trips to the Elite Eight and two resulted in championships.

The sleepers:

• Kentucky (+2500)
• Marquette (+2500)
• Creighton (+2500)
• Duke (+3000)
• Illinois (+3000)
• Baylor (+3500)
• Kansas (+4000)
• Alabama (+4000)
• Gonzaga (+6000)
• Florida (+6000)

The Creighton Bluejays are arguably the toughest No. 3 seed in this year's tournament. Just last year, they were a play away from a Final Four berth, and they returned three of their best starters. The issue with Creighton is depth. However, with Creighton playing in the Midwest region, well-regarded as the weakest in the NCAA Tournament this year, Creighton could have ample opportunity to rest their starters early on and gear up for a run at a national title.

The longshots:

• St. Mary's (+6600)
• BYU (+6600)
• Wisconsin (+8000)
• Michigan St. (+10000)
• San Diego St. (+10000)
• Florida Atlantic (+10000)
• Texas Tech (+10000)
• Mississippi St. (+10000)
• South Carolina (+10000)
• Texas (+12500)
• New Mexico (+12500)
• Utah St. (+12500)
• TCU (+15000)
• Washington St. (+15000)
• Clemson (+15000)
• Texas A&M (+20000)
• Colorado (+20000)
• NC State (+20000)
• Dayton (+20000)

Someone might take a look at this list and think San Diego State is the obvious pick given that they were in the national championship last year. However, New Mexico might be the best bet in this group. Despite being listed as a No. 11 seed in the West, there are some people who have New Mexico ranked in the top 50% of teams in the tournament.

Obviously, recency bias may be playing a factor. The Lobos were considered a bubble team until they won four games in four days to claim the Mountain West conference title. Still, they proved in that tournament that they were capable of winning multiple big games in a row and had the depth to do it day after day. The Mountain West was a surprisingly deep conference this year too, with six teams from the conference earning NCAA Tournament bids -- New Mexico, Utah State, San Diego State, Nevada, Boise State, and Colorado State. New Mexico was the best of this bunch and are one of the hotter teams in the country heading into March Madness.

The very, very long shots:

• Virginia (+25000)
• Oregon (+25000)
• Northwestern (+25000)
• Drake (+25000)
• Boise St. (+30000)
• Colorado St. (+30000)
• Grand Canyon (+30000)
• McNeese St. (+35000)
• Yale (+50000)
• Duquesne (+50000)
• UAB (+50000)
• Samford (+100000)
• Morehead St. (+100000)
• Oakland (+100000)
• Charleston (+100000)
• Vermont (+100000)
• Akron (+100000)
• Western Kentucky (+100000)
• Long Beach State (+100000)
• Longwood (+200000)
• Stetson (+200000)
• Wagner (+200000)
• South Dakota St. (+200000)
• Colgate (+200000)
• Montana St. (+200000)
• Howard (+200000)
• Saint Peter's (+200000)
• Grambling St. (+200000)

Let's talk about McNeese State. The Cowboys were just one of four teams to win 30 games this season, and they did so with an incredible three-point offense, ranking top-ten in the nation. This may not be a university many people are familiar with, but McNeese has a high-powered, high-tempo offense that could give some of the higher seeds trouble early on in the tournament. Of course, their title hopes are practically slim to none still, but betting on a Sweet 16 run from these Cowboys may not be too far out of the question.

How to watch March Madness:

All games will be broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Here are additional streaming options to watch all the action on your devices.

• Stream through  Paramount+
• Stream through  HULU with Live TV
• NCAA March Madness Live app
• Stream through  DirecTV Stream

Stream March Madness: Catch all March Madness action with a Fubo subscription

NCAA Men's Basketball March Madness 2024 Schedule

First and second round, sweet 16 and elite eight, ncaa championship game.

MEN'S MARCH MADNESS: Selection Sunday bracket, snubs, predictions

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