Minnesota is returning to DI regionals (Photo: Tami Johnston)
USA Rugby’s DI Fall College Championship has already seen one team claim a spot in the Nov. 23-24 regional playoffs, which are being held in Columbia, Mo., for the western bracket, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for the eastern bracket. In the east, some teams will have to go through a wild card round on Nov. 16.
DIVISION I
EAST
ALLEGHENY
Will be decided between Pittsburgh and Kent State, and they still have two more weeks of regular season left. The standings leader will advance to the wild card round on Nov. 16 and play the Big 10 runner-up.
AT-LARGE
Traditionally, Davenport University and the U.S. Naval Academy are the at-large candidates that fill out the eastern part of the bracket. One will get an automatic place in the quarterfinals and the second will have to play through the wild card round and the Northeast runner-up. It will be interesting to see how these two teams are placed, because Davenport is the consistent fall championship finalist, but Navy beat the Panthers earlier in the season.
NORTHEAST
This weekend is the final week of the regular season and that will set the match-ups for:
• Nov. 2 Semifinals: #1 hosts #4 / #2 hosts #3
• Nov. 9 Final and 3rd: Winner advances to regional quarterfinals; 2nd place goes to play-in match on Nov. 16 against an at-large team (likely Navy or Davenport)
WEST
The BIG 10 is actually in both brackets. The winner, determined by standings, advances directly to the western bracket in Missouri. The runner-up must contest a play-in match against the Allegheny rep on Nov. 16. Indiana is currently undefeated, and Michigan State is right behind the Redstorm.
MIDWEST
The conference decided to use standings to name its representative to DI regionals, and the University of Minnesota clinched the berth after Saturday’s win over Northern Iowa.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
The conference is holding crossover semifinals this weekend, Oct. 26-27, at the higher seed:
Montana State @ Air Force
Wyoming @ Utah State
The championship will be held Nov. 3 at the higher seed (if Air Force wins, then the final will be in Colorado Springs).
TEXAS
There’s one more week of league play before the standings set. TRB is awaiting more information (so expect an update), but the two-day championship on Nov. 2-3 in Austin will produce the automatic berth to regionals.