National Collegiate Rugby has confirmed its Women's D2 playoff brackets for the fall of 2023.

Defending NCR champs Wisconsin-Eau Claire comes in as a top seed after having rolled through their fall 5-0 by an average score of 75-3.

With lock Calla Dexheimer playing strong up front and deep three backs Cerys Ridd and Izzy Currie running wild, they are very dangerous. But not necessarily unstoppable. Remember that the teams from the old ACRA joined NCR and they bring with them some talented teams—seven of the Round of 16 come from there. Notable, Vassar comes having won ACRA in fairly dominating fashion the last two years.

Does Vassar dominate currently? They had to work for it to get past Fairfield to the conference final, and there they met Columbia, which beat the Brewers 31-22.

So maybe Vassar is vulnerable. Columbia's defense is very strong and they found a way to defeat Vassar's tactics.

Grand Valley State is most definitely a contender. Since allowing 20 points against Calvin in their opening weekend, they have not given up a point through the next six games (two of which look to have been forfeits). This is pretty astonishing, and Western Michigan is the only team to really be even close to close. You compare this to an undefeated team such as Syracuse, which has won, but has given up some decent-sized scores—that usually is an indicator of which team could succeed in the playoffs.

Temple has also come through as a strong contender. Historically they have had trouble with Vassar, but this year might be a little different.