Last updated: November 3, 2026. Records and rankings are from the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll released today.
The latest NCAA field hockey rankings changed at the top just as conference tournaments begin. Maryland moved to No. 1 in the NFHCA Division I coaches poll, passing reigning national champion Northwestern, even though Northwestern holds the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament this week.
Quick summary
- Maryland (16-1) is No. 1, followed by Northwestern (16-2), UConn (14-1), Harvard (15-1) and UMass (17-1).
- The Big Ten Tournament runs Nov. 4-8 in Columbus, Ohio.
- The ACC Championship runs Nov. 3-6 at North Carolina.
- The NCAA Selection Show is Nov. 8, and the championship finishes at Trager Stadium in Louisville on Nov. 20 and 22.
NCAA field hockey rankings: top 15 (Nov. 3)
| # | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | 16-1 |
| 2 | Northwestern | 16-2 |
| 3 | UConn | 14-1 |
| 4 | Harvard | 15-1 |
| 5 | UMass | 17-1 |
| 6 | Wake Forest | 13-5 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 11-6 |
| 8 | Duke | 12-4 |
| 9 | Princeton | 12-4 |
| 10 | Iowa | 12-4 |
| 11 | Miami (Ohio) | 13-4 |
| 12 | Penn State | 12-5 |
| 13 | Liberty | 12-5 |
| 14 | Rutgers | 11-7 |
| 15 | Lafayette | 15-2 |
What changed from last week
Comparing today’s poll with the Oct. 27 rankings shows movement across the top 10.
- Maryland and Northwestern swapped. Northwestern was No. 1 last week at 16-1. Maryland was No. 2 at 15-1.
- Harvard passed UMass. The Crimson moved from No. 5 to No. 4, and the Minutemen slid one spot despite adding a win.
- Wake Forest passed Duke. The Demon Deacons climbed from No. 7 to No. 6, and Duke dropped from No. 6 to No. 8.
- North Carolina rose three spots. The Tar Heels went from No. 10 to No. 7 after a road win over Duke.
- Rutgers jumped four spots. The Scarlet Knights moved from No. 18 to No. 14.
Teams to watch beyond the top five
Iowa and Penn State meet in a Big Ten quarterfinal on Nov. 4 with both teams inside the top 12, making it the best first-round game on the board. Lafayette has the best record outside the top five at 15-2, and Miami (Ohio) sits No. 11 at 13-4. Syracuse, which was No. 13 last week, and Indiana, which was tied for No. 15, both fell out of the top 15 today, so conference tournament results could shape who gets a seed.
The Big Ten puzzle: No. 1 in the poll, No. 2 in the bracket
Maryland and Northwestern shared the Big Ten title at 7-1, and Northwestern won the head-to-head tiebreaker for the top seed and a quarterfinal bye. Voters still put Maryland first this week, so the Big Ten final could settle the argument if both teams get there.
Here is the bracket at Buckeye Varsity Field, with all times Eastern.
- Nov. 4, 11 a.m.: No. 4 seed Rutgers vs. No. 5 seed Indiana
- Nov. 4, 2 p.m.: No. 2 seed Maryland vs. No. 7 seed Ohio State
- Nov. 4, 5 p.m.: No. 3 seed Penn State vs. No. 6 seed Iowa
- Nov. 6: Semifinals, with Northwestern meeting the Rutgers-Indiana winner at 1 p.m.
- Nov. 8, noon: Championship
Can anyone stop North Carolina in the ACC?
North Carolina is hosting the ACC tournament at Karen Shelton Stadium and enters as the No. 1 seed, chasing a 10th straight conference title. The Tar Heels sit No. 7 nationally at 11-6, unusually modest for a program with that streak, yet head coach Erin Matson is 8-0 in ACC tournament games.
- Nov. 3 quarterfinals: No. 8 Stanford vs. No. 1 North Carolina, No. 5 Louisville vs. No. 4 Syracuse, No. 7 Virginia vs. No. 2 Wake Forest, No. 6 Boston College vs. No. 3 Duke
- Nov. 4: Semifinals
- Nov. 6, 3 p.m.: Championship
Wake Forest and Duke are the top ACC threats in the poll. A long run would also be notable for Louisville, since the NCAA finals will be played in its home city.
What the rankings mean for the NCAA tournament
The NCAA schedule lists the Division I Selection Show for Nov. 8, the same day as the Big Ten final. The Big Ten champion earns an automatic NCAA bid, so an upset in Columbus could change the field.
There is also a seeding change this year. The NCAA said on Oct. 22 that the field hockey championship will seed eight teams instead of four. For a top-10 team, landing in that top eight could mean a friendlier early path, so these final conference games carry extra weight.
Outside the Power conferences, keep an eye on Harvard and Princeton in the Ivy League, plus UConn and UMass, both with one loss. Field hockey is one of the Olympic sports that rarely gets national attention. Our look at whether NIL is hurting Olympic sports explains the money side, and our spring sports NIL guide covers similar programs.
FAQ
Who is No. 1 in the NCAA field hockey rankings?
Maryland, at 16-1, in the Nov. 3 Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll.
Who won the last NCAA field hockey title?
Northwestern, which is the reigning national champion and shared this year’s Big Ten title with Maryland.
Where is the 2026 NCAA field hockey championship?
Trager Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, with games listed for Nov. 20 and 22.
When is the field hockey selection show?
Nov. 8 on NCAA.com, listed for 10 p.m.
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