INDIANAPOLIS — With selection Monday on the horizon, the NCAA Division I men’s soccer committee announced its top 16 ranking during a reveal at halftime of the game between Cornell and Penn on ESPNU. The top 16 correspond to the number of teams that are seeded in the 48-team NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship bracket.
Using results through games of October 17, Ohio St. is the top team at this point of the season while leading the nation in win-loss-percentage (0.833) and corner kicks per game (7.58). The Buckeyes also rank second in the nation in points per game (9.83), shots on goal per game (8.17) and total goals (33).
The rest of the top four is set with Pittsburgh, Georgetown and Stanford. The top four seeds are important, as if the seeds hold those four teams would have the opportunity to host quarterfinal matches with a bid to the Men’s College Cup on the line.
“The top teams have executed really well through their schedules up to this point in the season,” said Tim Bernal, chair of the committee and executive associate athletic director at Kentucky. “Developing a top 16 ranking was exceptionally tough as the next group of teams also have impressive resumes. They figure to be in the conversation based on how things shake out as we enter selections.”
The remainder of the top eight includes Maryland, North Carolina, Duke and Denver.
Rounding out the rest of the ranking were Marhsall, SMU, Hofstra, West Virginia, Missouri St., Western Mich., Cornell and defending National Champion Clemson.
“We are looking forward to the final weeks of the regular season and conference tournaments,” Bernal said. “It’s been a competitive season thus far and we’re excited to see how it all plays out and eventually impacts the final bracket in a few weeks.”
The ranking is based on the criteria used to select and seed the 48 teams for the Division I men’s soccer championship and in no particular order includes strength of schedule, Rating Percentage Index, head-to-head competition, results versus common opponents, strength and results against non-conference opponents, late season performance in the last eight games and strength and results against conference opponents.
The 2024 championship field will consist of 23 automatic conference qualifiers and 25 at-large selections, which will be revealed on Monday, November 18 on krikya18.com. The top 16 teams will be seeded and receive first round byes before hosting second round games.
The tournament opens on Thursday, November 21 as the championship will take place at campus sites through the quarterfinals as teams look to earn a trip to the Men’s College Cup.
The 2024 Men's College Cup heads back to Cary, NC this year with the semifinals on Friday, Dec.13, and the championship match on Monday, Dec. 16.
Tickets for the Men's College Cup are available at krikya18.com/MensCollegeCup.
*Records through Oct. 17
| Rank | School | Record (W-L-T) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 9-1-2 |
| 2 | Pitt | 10-3-0 |
| 3 | Georgetown | 6-3-4 |
| 4 | Stanford | 8-2-3 |
| 5 | Maryland | 8-1-4 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 8-1-4 |
| 7 | Duke | 5-2-4 |
| 8 | Denver | 5-2-4 |
| 9 | Marshall | 8-1-2 |
| 10 | SMU | 7-1-5 |
| 11 | Hofstra | 9-3-2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | 8-1-3 |
| 13 | Missouri State | 9-2-1 |
| 14 | Western Mich. | 8-0-5 |
| 15 | Cornell | 9-1-2 |
| 16 | Clemson | 8-2-2 |
