There were two additions to the USA Rugby DI Fall College Ranking, as well as one swap in positions to reward stellar defense.
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Air Force improved to 3-0 in the Rocky Mountain conference, but did give up 33 points to Wyoming – a bonus point that the academy doesn’t regularly relinquish. Those five tries – three of which were finished by inside center Jessica Gentle – gave Wyoming the standings lead it needed over 2-1 Colorado State to guarantee a post-season berth (regardless of how CSU performs against Air Force this weekend). Wyoming joins the rankings at No. 12 after finishing the regular season 3-1.
In the Rocky Mountain’s western pool, Utah State completed its regular season with a 51-15 win over Utah Valley. Its Orem-based opponent went after it, scoring the first three tries of the game and eventually producing a yellow card advantage. It could have been the turning point for Utah Valley, but Utah State had the comeback ready.
The Rocky Mountain semifinals are nearly set for the weekend of Oct. 25, and the only way that the following does not occur is if CSU beats Air Force this weekend: Montana State @ Air Force, and Wyoming @ Utah State. The victors then contest the conference final the weekend of Nov. 2, and then regional playoffs follow.
UCONN gave up its first try of the entire Northeast season during its 63-5 win over UMASS. That’s an incredible stat that stretches across four games, and necessitated a move into second place. The Huskies will end their regular season against also-ranked Northeastern, which banked a 29-7 win over Boston last weekend.
Navy wasn’t necessarily punished for its loss to DI Elite Penn State so much as UCONN was rewarded. However, Davenport did play the Nittany Lions recently and only seven points separated them. Meanwhile, the Panthers spent last weekend beating the Big 10’s Notre Dame 45-29.
The Irish have not yet won a game so it may seem strange that the team is still on the rankings, but all of its DI games have been close, and 29 points against Davenport is no small feat. Good things are in development for the Indiana squad, which just needs to add that finishing piece to its game.
Also in the Big 10, Indiana blanked Purdue 65-10 (read more from head coach Vaughn Mitchell), and has two more league games against Michigan and Penn State. Michigan State was idle last weekend but will play Davenport Saturday and then end against Penn State. Standings will determine the conference’s rep to fall playoffs.
Minnesota remained at No. 5 after a 71-0 win over Iowa. The Gophers end the regular season against Northern Iowa and the winner will clinch the berth to the DI fall regional championship (read more).
Both Texas teams were idle, although A&M was supposed to play Sam Houston State. And independent Princeton joined the lineup at No. 13. The Tigers had defeated Boston University by five points in its season-opener and then followed with an 11-point win over DII Bloomsburg. Last weekend, Princeton fell nine points short of Virginia Tech, the team that finished runner-up to DI spring champion BYU last year. That was the performance that put the team on the ranking.
