2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship: Full Schedule, Teams & Tournament Guide

April 27, 2026 | RallyFuel Blog | FanFuel

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship is here, bringing the most exciting stretch of the college lacrosse season. Within one week, conference champions will be crowned, automatic bids will be secured, and the full NCAA tournament bracket will take shape.

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship concludes on May 25 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia — a historic venue that last hosted the championship in 1982.

2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship Schedule

Selection Show: May 3
Opening Round: May 6
First Round: May 9–10
Quarterfinals: May 16–17
Semifinals: May 23
Championship Game: May 25

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship features an 18-team single-elimination format. Ten conference champions earn automatic bids, while eight teams are selected at-large. The four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers compete in the opening round for the final spots in the main bracket.

Cornell enters the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship as the defending champion after defeating Maryland in last year’s title game.

Top Teams in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship

Notre Dame leads the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship rankings with a dominant resume, including a 10–1 record and the nation’s top RPI.

Princeton, Richmond, and Cornell are also key contenders, while Duke remains one of the most intriguing bubble teams.

Top 20 Rankings

1. Notre Dame
2. Princeton
3. Richmond
4. Cornell
5. North Carolina
6. Syracuse
7. Johns Hopkins
8. Virginia
9. Yale
10. Maryland
11. Duke
12. Georgetown
13. Harvard
14. Army
15. Penn State
16. Towson
17. Ohio State
18. Loyola
19. Boston University
20. Penn

ACC Championship Impact

Dates: May 1 & 3
Semifinals:

• Notre Dame vs Virginia
• North Carolina vs Syracuse

Championship Game: May 3

The ACC tournament plays a critical role in shaping the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship field, with multiple teams projected to earn bids.

Big Ten Championship Race

The Big Ten regular season ended in a four-way tie, highlighting the depth of the conference.

• Johns Hopkins (3–2)
• Maryland (3–2)
• Ohio State (3–2)
• Penn State (3–2)
• Michigan (2–3)
• Rutgers (1–4)

The Big Ten champion will secure an automatic bid, while several teams remain strong at-large candidates for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship.

Patriot League Tournament

Dates: April 28 – May 3

First Round:

• Lehigh vs Boston University
• Colgate vs Bucknell

Semifinals:

• Army vs lowest remaining seed
• Loyola vs highest remaining seed

Championship: May 3

Army, Loyola, and Boston University headline the Patriot League race.

Other Key Conferences

The Big East and Ivy League tournaments will also influence the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship bracket. Georgetown leads the Big East, while Princeton, Cornell, and Harvard dominate the Ivy League.

Mid-Major Teams to Watch

Richmond is one of the biggest stories of the season with a near-perfect record, while Towson and Army remain dangerous contenders capable of making deep tournament runs.

The Road to Charlottesville

Scott Stadium at the University of Virginia hasn’t hosted the NCAA championship since 1982, when North Carolina defeated Johns Hopkins 7–5. The 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship marks a historic return to Charlottesville.

This year’s field is stacked with elite programs and emerging contenders, making the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship one of the most competitive in recent memory.

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