Division I Men’s Soccer Committee reveals top 16 rankings

The NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee announced its top 16 rankings on Friday, with Selection Monday approaching in a month. This ranking is based on results through games played as of October 14 and highlights the teams in contention for the Men's College Cup.

The top four seeds are Princeton, Stanford, Virginia, and Portland, which are crucial as they would host quarterfinal matches if the seeds hold. Princeton, with a 9-1-1 record, three Quad 1 wins, and the No. 1 RPI, earned the No. 1 seed. Stanford, at 11-1-1 overall and 5-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, is the No. 2 seed, with a 2-1 record in Quad 1 games. Virginia, the No. 3 seed, has a 7-1-4 record, 2-1-2 in Quad 1, and an RPI of 7. Portland, the No. 4 seed, boasts a 9-0-2 overall record, 2-0-2 in the West Coast Conference, an RPI of 3, and a key win over San Diego.

Brian Mackin, committee chair and director of athletics at UNC Greensboro, commented that the top four teams have shown exceptional competitiveness, and selecting the top 16 was challenging due to strong resumes from other teams. He noted that these teams will be monitored closely in the remaining games leading up to selections.

The remainder of the top eight includes Indiana, Maryland, High Point, and defending national champion Vermont. The full top 16 is rounded out by San Diego, NC State, Bryant, Georgetown, West Virginia, North Carolina, Akron, and Marshall.

The ranking criteria include strength of schedule, Rating Percentage Index (RPI), head-to-head competition, results versus common opponents, non-conference performance, late-season results in the last eight games, and conference performance. However, this initial ranking does not affect the final 48-team bracket for the 2025 championship, which will be revealed on November 17.

The championship field will consist of 23 automatic qualifiers and 25 at-large selections, with the top 16 teams receiving first-round byes and hosting second-round games. The tournament begins on November 20 with preliminary rounds at campus sites, culminating in the Men's College Cup semifinals on December 12 and the championship on December 15 in Cary, North Carolina. Tickets for the event are available online.