College Soccer Rankings: What Are They? Do They Matter?
Pacific University battle it our vs. Pacific Lutheran in NCAA D3 action!
As college soccer season heats up, the excitement builds around which teams will make it to the top of the rankings. With the NCAA soccer RPI (Rating Percentage Index) being the official ranking system for Division I men's and women's soccer, it's important to understand how it's calculated and who has been dominating the rankings in 2022. Apart from this, it's also important to understand how the NCAA D2 and NCAA D3 college soccer teams are ranked, and we'll look into these in more detail in the post as well.
The NCAA soccer RPI takes into account three main factors: a team's winning percentage, their opponents' winning percentage, and their opponents' opponents' winning percentage. This formula aims to not only reward teams for their own success, but also for the quality of their opponents and the strength of their schedule.
Let's break down the formula a bit further. A team's winning percentage is simply the number of games they've won divided by the total number of games they've played. This is then multiplied by 0.25.
Next, their opponents' winning percentage is calculated by taking the total number of wins of all the teams they've played against and dividing it by the total number of games those teams have played. This number is then multiplied by 0.50.
Finally, their opponents' opponents' winning percentage is calculated by taking the total number of wins of all the teams their opponents have played against and dividing it by the total number of games those teams have played. This number is then multiplied by 0.25.
All of these numbers are then added together to give a team's RPI score, with a higher score indicating a stronger team.
So who has been dominating the rankings in 2022? According to the United Soccer Coaches website, the top five men's teams as of February 28th, 2023 are:
Wake Forest
North Carolina
Indiana
Pittsburgh
Georgetown
On the women's side, the top five teams are:
Florida State
Virginia
North Carolina
Stanford
Duke
It's important to note that these rankings are constantly changing throughout the season as teams win and lose, and the strength of their opponents' schedules fluctuates. However, the NCAA soccer RPI provides a reliable and objective way to compare teams and determine which ones are truly at the top of their game.
So as the season continues, keep an eye on the RPI rankings and see which teams rise to the top. Will the current leaders maintain their positions, or will a dark horse come out of nowhere to claim the top spot? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – college soccer season is always full of surprises and excitement.
How Are The College Soccer Rankings Of NCAA D2 & NCAA D3 Teams Measured?
For NCAA D2 and D3, the United Soccer Coaches rankings are the primary rankings used throughout the season. These rankings are determined by a panel of coaches who evaluate each team's performance and strength of schedule. The coaches are divided into eight regional committees, with each committee responsible for ranking teams within their respective region. The final national rankings are then determined by a vote of all the coaches in each division.
The NCAA also calculates rankings for both D2 and D3, using a system called the Regional Advisory Committee Rankings. These rankings are used to determine playoff berths, with the top-ranked teams in each region earning automatic bids.
Who was at the Top of the Rankings in 2022?
As of February 28th, 2023, the United Soccer Coaches rankings for NCAA D2 and D3 are as follows:
NCAA D2:
University of Charleston
Cal State LA
University of St. Thomas (MN)
West Chester University
Midwestern State University
Colorado School of Mines
Young Harris College
Rollins College
Limestone University
Flagler College
NCAA D3:
University of Chicago
Calvin University
Tufts University
Carnegie Mellon University
Washington and Lee University
Amherst College
Johns Hopkins University
St. Lawrence University
Trinity University (TX)
Connecticut College
It's important to note that rankings can change throughout the season, and the final rankings may differ from those we see today. However, the teams at the top of the rankings in 2022 have been consistently strong throughout the season.
College soccer rankings are not the be all and end all in the recruiting process
College soccer rankings are an important measure of a team's success throughout the season. While they're determined by several organizations, including the NCAA and the United Soccer Coaches, the rankings are ultimately based on a team's performance, strength of schedule, and overall record. A college soccer prospect shouldn't look at rankings as the weather vane of where they will potentially end up in their recruiting process. College soccer rankings act as a good guide, though, you ultimately have to be realistic as to how you view any ranking system.
In terms of college soccer recruiting, it is vital for a prospect to understand that looking at rankings to decide on whether the school will be the right fit for them is not a good strategy. You may want to play at any of these top tier teams we discussed above, though realistically, many of these teams will have very specific recruiting requirements every single year in terms of the types of soccer specific positions they are recruiting for on the field, and also the type of student that will be the best fit for the academic programs they provide at their school.
As we saw at the end of the 2022 season, the teams at the top of the NCAA D1, NCAA D2 and D3 rankings have proven themselves to be some of the strongest and most successful teams in the country. It'll be exciting to see how the rankings change as we head into playoff season in 2023, and which teams will ultimately come out on top!
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