INDIANAPOLIS — With Selection Monday a month away, the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee announced its top 16 ranking Friday evening.
Based on results through games of October 14, Princeton, Stanford, Virginia and Portland received the top four seeds. The top four seeds are crucial, as if the seeds hold those four teams would have the opportunity to host quarterfinal matches with a bid to the Men’s College Cup on the line.
Princeton, with a record of 9-1-1, three Quad 1 wins and the No. 1 RPI ranking, received the No. 1 seed. Stanford, 11-1-1 overall and 5-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, received the No. 2 seed. The Cardinal was 2-1 in Quad 1, with their only loss on the road at Louisville on Sept. 5. Receiving the No. 3 seed, Virginia, with a record of 7-1-4, was 2-1-2 in Quad 1 and had an RPI of 7. Rounding out the top 4, Portland, 9-0-2 overall and 2-0-2 West Coast Conference, boasted the No. 3 RPI and claimed a crucial win over San Diego, 2-1, on Oct. 10.
“The top four teams have been exceptionally competitive in their schedules up to this point in their season,” said Brian Mackin, chair of the committee and director of athletics at UNC Greensboro. “Developing a top 16 ranking was extremely difficult as the next group of teams were very competitive and have strong resumes. They will be in the conversation as we monitor the remaining games of the season and heading into selections.”
The remainder of the top eight includes Indiana, Maryland, High Point and defending national champion Vermont. Finally, rounding out the rest of the Top 16 are San Diego, NC State, Bryant, Georgetown, West Virginia, North Carolina, Akron and Marshall.
The ranking is based on the criteria used to select and seed the 48 teams for the Division I Men’s Soccer Championship and in no particular order includes strength of schedule, Rating Percentage Index, head-to-head competition, results versus common opponents, strength and results against non-conference opponents, late season performance in the last eight games and strength and results against conference opponents.
The top 16 teams announced during this reveal will have no bearing on the final 2025 48-team bracket, which will be revealed on Monday, November 17 on ncaa.com. The championship field will be made up of 23 automatic qualifiers and 25 at-large selections, with the top 16 teams receiving first-round byes before hosting second-round games.
The tournament opens on Friday, Nov. 20, with preliminary-round games taking place at campus sites as teams look to earn a trip to the Men’s College Cup. The 2025 Men’s College Cup heads back to Cary, North Carolina, this year with the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 12 and the championship match on Monday, Dec. 15.
Tickets for the Men’s College Cup are available at ncaa.com/MensCollegeCup.
NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee Top 16 ranking*
- Princeton (9-1-1)
- Stanford (11-1-1)
- Virginia (7-1-4)
- Portland (8-0-2)
- Indiana (9-3-1)
- Maryland (8-0-3)
- High Point (8-1-3)
- Vermont (8-0-5)
- San Diego (7-2-3)
- NC State (9-1-2)
- Bryant (12-0-1)
- Georgetown (7-3-3)
- West Virginia (9-1-2)
- North Carolina (7-2-3)
- Akron (8-3-2)
- Marshall (6-1-4)
*Rankings based on games played through Tuesday, Oct. 14.
