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12.05.2025College Men
Texas A&M made it pst Kentucky in the 2025 D1AA quarterfinals. Will Fagan photo.
Texas A&M made it pst Kentucky in the 2025 D1AA quarterfinals. Will Fagan photo.
Author: Alex Goff

It seems like we have something new and something classic in the NCR D1AA semifinals.

Something classic would be Louisville vs Bowling Green, which features two teams that play each other twice a year just about every year (once in regular MAC conference play and, usually, once in the MAC playoffs, generally the final).

That's the case this year with the Cardinals having beaten the Falcons twice in competitive matches. 

But Bowling Green were NCR D1AA finalists last year and are largely unchanged from that lineup. Add to that their offensive explosions in wins over Babson (55-3) and Virginia Tech (71-24) and this might be a different BGSU team.

Louisville, however, is playing solid defense and is excellent at getting under opponents' skin.

These two teams have been in each of the last three NCR D1AA finals and will make it four next week.

Aggies
12.06.25
12:00pm
Tenn Vols
LU Cardinals
12.06.25
12:00pm
BG Falcons

Something New

With Texas A&M newly into D1AA and newly into NCR, they were an unknown quantity, but Head Coach Tui Osborne has their attack firing nicely and they won a dramatic quarterfinal over two-time defending champs Kentucky, taking that game by two points.

Skill and speed are the hallmarks of Osborne teams, and he has won titles with Life University and with St. Bonaventure. Now he seeks one with A&M. The Aggies will take on a Tennessee team which is the new top dog in the SCRC.

The Vols are experienced, talented, and have racked up an impressive 10-0 season that saw them beat Ohio State, LSU, Clemson, and Kentucky, before shutting out Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals.

So, a new conference in NCR's D1AA, a new SCRC champ, and a new overall champ. We just don't know who yet.

Both games are shown live on NCR's paywalled broadcast site: https://tv.ncr.rugby/

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