There is still a lot of speculation as to who is competing in the new USA Rugby Fall 15s Championship sponsored by ACRA and what that means for the spring. We have an incomplete picture of the upcoming Round of 16 (Nov. 15); however, we’ve checked in with a few of the top DI teams to see where they’re figuring in.

PENN STATE
The current USA Rugby DI champions won an exciting match against ACRA champion Norwich in early September, and the hope for a rematch this December is too enticing. Penn State won that friendly, and it would be an utter treat to see the teams compete twice in one season. Without this new playoff, Penn State would have ended its season with the 83-0 win over Indiana last Saturday, and then looked to the spring conference championship. The Big Ten title will still be determined in the New Year, but it will be a bit anti-climactic. 

Familiar names helped PSU to a 40-point halftime lead last weekend, as Eagle fullback Meya Bizer led all scorers with 22 points on two tries and six conversions. Freshman flyer Tess Feury banked a hat trick, while lock Katie Mueller and back row/captain Elizabeth Cairns scored a brace of tries. Flyhalf Gabby Cantorna, prop Beth Rose and wing Lauren Barber also scored tries, while Cantorna (2) and Corinne Heavner slotted conversions.

The entire Big Ten conference was looking for bids to the fall playoffs.

NORWICH
Nothing has changed for teams like Norwich and Northern Iowa – the clear leaders in their regions. The reigning fall champ was always looking to peak in Florida on Dec. 6-7, but the road to the podium has become more difficult now that teams like PSU in the mix.

The Cadets ended its regular season last weekend as well, closing out with a 137-0 victory over Boston University. Eighteen players scored tries, and junior center Ally Day led them all with three. Captain Vanessa Champagne, freshman star prop Ilona Maher, and freshman wing Denisse Zambon dotted down twice apiece, while Sophie Mundell, Riley Blankenship, Hannah Bell (5 conversions), Frankie Sands, Arianna Amodeo, Jessica Bosseler, Courtney Sullivan, Sarah Whalen, Katie Smith, Alanna Girardin (7 conversions), Sabrina Villanueva, Sophia Buono, and Alexandrea Hawkins added five-pointers.

Norwich dominates the Northeast, so the conference title match between the Cadets and #2 American International College shouldn't produce any surprises. It will be the third meeting between the two teams, and Norwich has won both by a combined 117-17.

There are only three teams in the top tier of the Northeast, with Army being the third side. The West Pointers played AIC to two very close losses, so if the Yellow Jackets are invited to the nationwide playoffs, then it’s conceivable that Army will, too.

BYU
Last year, it was only Air Force of the former Pacific Mountain West conference (now the independent Mountain West conference) that made the late decision to join ACRA’s fall playoffs, but that has changed in 2014. The traditional leader, Women’s Cougar Rugby (BYU), has followed and will be post-season ready come Nov. 15.

The Cougars are currently 3-0 in conference play, having downed Colorado 106-5, Air Force 34-5, and Colorado State 53-10 last weekend. The team moved the ball around, as Hillary Hironaka, Justina Grubb, Cajin Christenson, Lindsay Sheridan, Meighan Stevens, Nicole McCullough and Chanel Arts all scored tries. Jessie Beck handled the extra points.

BYU still has one more league game against New Mexico, which beat the Utah powerhouse during regular season last year. Los Lobos beat Air Force convincingly, 55-20, last weekend. Again, while speculation isn’t productive, New Mexico and Air Force could make good additions to the DI Round of 16.

Update #1 (Oct. 28): BYU is NOT playing in the fall championships, and neither is New Mexico. Colorado, Colorado State and Air Force are applying for at-large bids to the fall playoffs, according to Mountain West commissioner Tom Waqa.

QUINNIPIAC
Similar to Norwich, Quinnipiac’s fall hasn’t altered much despite the shift in playoffs. The Bobcats built arguably the toughest schedule as an independent team and has applied for an at-large bid. The team isn’t entering the post-season with a perfect record; in fact, the Connecticut side is coming off a five-point loss to Central Washington (read more) and 17-point loss to BYU. But those experiences do wonders in terms of experience, and the squad has traveled to every corner of the country to sample the best teams and styles being played today.

At present, Quinnipiac does not know if its bid has been accepted.

BROWN
Last year, the Ivy League divided in post-season play. Half of the top tier joined ACRA playoffs, the other half followed USA Rugby. Therefore, this is one conference for which the reunion of the two entities is beneficial.

The conference winner will be determined this weekend in Hanover, N.H., but Brown is the favorite. After a tight match against Harvard to open the season, Brown went undefeated with convincing wins against Princeton and Dartmouth. Last weekend, Brown hosted Navy and handed the visitors a 46-12 loss.

Jasmine McAdams’ 40-meter kick return set up sophomore center Oksana Goretaya for the opening try, which flyhalf Sofia Rudin converted. Brown remained in control for the first quarter, as Tiara Mack scored and Natalie Klotz finished off a fantastic forward drive over the line (19-0). Navy responded with its lone points of the half in minute 25, but scrumhalf Amber Reano helped restore the point differential when she quick-tapped through a penalty and scored. The halfback was integral in the final score of the half, as well, recovering a kick and putting junior center Kiki Morgan into space for the try, 29-7 into the half.

Rudin was responsible for the first points of the second stanza, kicking a penalty for the 32-7 lead, and there the scoreboard stood until the 66th minute. Morgan sliced through the defense, as she’s wont to do, and raced 40 meters for her second try, 39-7. With 1.5 minutes in regulation, Navy scored after a Brown yellow card, but senior May Siu answered back in the final minute of play, 46-12.

Remaining Qs
No word yet if the important teams like Mason Dixon’s West Chester and UVA will be included in the fall championship. Although it would be easy for the Golden Rams to compete, university-approved budgets could prevent participation – for this year at least. And provided that nothing changes next year – and that is a tall order – teams like Life University (which played a packed fall schedule) could further diversify the competition. Stayed tuned as USA Rugby and/or ACRA detail the full extent of their partnership and how it’ll affect the quickly approaching fall playoffs.

Update #2 (Oct. 29): Mason Dixon teams West Chester and UVA will not be competing in fall playoffs. The former is limited to one playoff season per year by the university.