FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2026
The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) has released its first Men’s D1A Power Rankings of the 2026–27 season, officially kicking off another exciting year of premier collegiate rugby competition.
With the fall season underway and several programs still awaiting their first matches, the opening rankings provide an early look at the D1A competitive landscape. As more teams take the field and results accumulate, the rankings will continue to evolve, reflecting on-field performance, strength of schedule, and input from across the D1A community.
Navy claims the top spot in the inaugural rankings, followed by Davenport, Army, Lindenwood, and Life University to round out the top five.
October 2026 D1A Power Rankings
A Performance-Driven Ranking System
The D1A Power Rankings utilize a structured computational model developed to provide a consistent and comprehensive evaluation of participating programs.
The model incorporates six weighted factors:
- Conference win/loss results
- Out-of-conference win/loss results
- Strength of schedule
- Media poll
- Coaches poll
- Competitions Committee poll
On-field performance remains the foundation of the ranking system, with additional perspectives from coaches, media, and the Competitions Committee helping provide a broader assessment of each program.
With some teams still awaiting their first fixtures, the opening rankings establish an initial benchmark rather than a definitive measure of the season’s competitive hierarchy.
Looking Ahead
The D1A Power Rankings will be updated throughout the 2026–27 season, reflecting new results and the evolving competitive landscape.
Upcoming Ranking Releases:
- November 13, 2026
- December 15, 2026
- February 12, 2027
- March 12, 2027
Results from all matches played before March 21, 2027, will be incorporated into the final ranking data set used to determine postseason seeding and bracket placement.
Coaches will also have the opportunity to participate in five Coaches Polls throughout the season, contributing valuable perspectives to the ranking process.
With the first rankings now established, the stage is set for another highly competitive D1A season. As programs begin their campaigns and conference races take shape, every result will help determine the road to the postseason.
Let’s get rolling!
About CRAA
The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is a USA Rugby-sanctioned collegiate competition organization dedicated to advancing the highest levels of men’s and women’s college rugby. CRAA oversees premier collegiate divisions, including Men’s D1A, Men’s D1AA, Women’s D1, and Women’s D2, while providing competitive opportunities and championship pathways for student-athletes nationwide.
###
