Today we're unveiling our first D1A rankings, and we caution you ... there's a lot of rugby to be played.
We covered about 30 weeks of competition in the ranking for D1A last year, so it's going to be pretty much the same this time. The rankings in D1A are also a slow burn. We hit the playoffs and they will include something like 22 or 24 teams in two levels next spring, so that's the final exam to be sure.
Right now we want to draw your attention to a couple of developments:
1. University of San Diegio and St. Thomas University have moved up from D1AA. So they are ranked. We put them in ahead of some teams they have beaten, or seemed to have been strong than in 2024-25. However, they will have to re-prove themselves all over again.
2. We made a few shifts compared to 2024-25 based on our own assessment of player changes and the like, but perhaps the coaching changes will have as much of an influence. We'll see.
3. The teams that play move up. The teams that don't play, will drift further down the rankings until they start playing. So expect the Big 10, Rocky Mountain, Midwest Conference, and Rugby East teams, along with, potentially, St. Thomas, to make inroads.
4. Right now we have 13 teams not ranked. That includes Southern Virginia, which, under new Head Coach Paul Lasike, is undergoing a bit of a reboot. They will be the better for it, but don't expect them to undergo the pressure of rankings just yet. McKendree might well be a team we see. They have a tight but very challenging schedule this fall with Michigan State, Illinois (another non-ranked team to watch), Lindenwood, Arkansas State, and Davenport. No easy weekends there. Michigan State, Colorado, Utah Valley, Wyoming, UTEP, and the aforementioned Illini (new Head Coach Kevin Battle) could all jump into the rankings.
5. The potential to move up is certainly there. The very, very difficult Rugby East will be a good proving ground. Keep an eye on UMW (new Head Coach Andrew Spencer). Watch also Air Force (new Head Coach John Cullen), Colorado State (not quite new Head Coach but still embracing the job Joe Rusert-Cuddy), and Ohio State (newly-official coaching team Allan Hanson and Peter Malcolm).
