Compared to other NCAA championships, the men’s water polo tournament is small in numbers — but huge in competition.
Only eight teams qualify (six conference champions and two at-large selections), meaning everyone who makes the field is automatically in the Elite Eight. With a single-elimination bracket and no complex play-in rounds, the format stays true to the sport’s roots: simple, high-stakes, and brutally competitive.
The structure also creates a predictable trend. In more than 50 years of NCAA men’s water polo, the powerhouse programs usually rise to the top. Since the first tournament in 1969, there hasn’t been a true Cinderella run. And once again, this year’s bracket — hosted by Stanford — looks like a battle between the sport’s traditional bluebloods.
The tournament begins Friday, with semifinals on Saturday and the national championship scheduled for Dec. 7. And as usual, the championship race centers on the West Coast. No team outside California has ever won a national title, and only a handful of programs have dominated the trophy count. Since Pepperdine’s 1997 title, only USC, UCLA, and Stanfordhave won the championship.
Those three schools enter this year’s tournament as the clear favorites.
USC (No. 1 seed)
A historic powerhouse with 10 national championships — including six straight from 2008 to 2013 — USC enters as the top seed.
Record: 21–3, winners of four straight MPSF titles.
Key players: Robert Lopez-Duart (scoring leader) and Charles Mills (goalie).
USC opens play Friday against Concordia University, which is making its first NCAA appearance.
UCLA (No. 2 seed)
Despite falling to USC in the conference final, UCLA is seeded No. 2 with a dominant 24–2 record. The Bruins are the defending national champions.
Key star: Ryder Dodd, a sophomore who has scored in every game of his college career.
UCLA faces Princeton, making its 11th tournament appearance after winning the Ivy League title over Harvard.
Stanford (No. 3 seed)
Stanford received an at-large bid after finishing behind USC and UCLA, but the Cardinal still hold the No. 3 seed.
Record: 17–7, hosting the tournament at Avery Aquatic Center.
Stanford owns 11 national titles, the most of any program.
Leaders: Alex Gheorghe, Dianpiero Di Matire, and West Temkin — all first-team All-MPSF West honorees.
They’ll open against UC Davis (14–12) on Friday.
Fordham (No. 4 seed)
The lone non-California seed, Fordham (25–3) brings one of the most explosive offenses in the field. The Rams have scored 129 goals this season.
Key duo: Luca Silvestri and Andras Toth, who combined for 18 goals in the MAWPC tournament.
Fordham meets San Jose State (14–7) in Friday’s opening round.
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