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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Ranked No. 1 in NCAA Committee Top 16 Ranking
October 17, 2025 | Men's Soccer
PRINCETON, N.J. – Princeton was ranked #1 in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee's top 16 rankings, the committee announced Friday evening.
The committee's midseason rankings are based on results through games of October 14.
Princeton, Stanford, Virginia and Portland received the top four seeds. The top four seeds, if they hold, would host through NCAA quarterfinals with a bid to the Men's College Cup on the line.
The ranking is based on the criteria used to select and seed the 48 teams for the NCAA Tournament, and in no particular order includes strength of schedule, Rating Percentage Index (RPI), head-to-head competition, results versus common opponents, strength and results against non-conference opponents, late season performance in the last eight games and strength and results against conference opponents.
Princeton holds #1 in the RPI with a record of 9-1-1 on the season, including three Quad 1 wins over Rutgers, Seton Hall and Cornell. In the Ivy League, Princeton currently sits atop the standings with a 3-0 record.
The top 16 teams rankings have no bearing on the final 2025 48-team bracket, which will be revealed on Monday, November 17. The championship field will be made up of 23 automatic qualifiers and 25 at-large selections, with the top 16 teams receiving first-round byes before hosting second-round games.
The NCAA tournament will open on Friday, Nov. 20, with preliminary-round games taking place at campus sites as teams look to earn a trip to the Men's College Cup. The 2025 Men's College Cup will be held in Cary, North Carolina, with the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 12 and the championship match on Monday, Dec. 15.
The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow as they host Columbia for an Ivy League matchup in Roberts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
The committee's midseason rankings are based on results through games of October 14.
Princeton, Stanford, Virginia and Portland received the top four seeds. The top four seeds, if they hold, would host through NCAA quarterfinals with a bid to the Men's College Cup on the line.
The ranking is based on the criteria used to select and seed the 48 teams for the NCAA Tournament, and in no particular order includes strength of schedule, Rating Percentage Index (RPI), head-to-head competition, results versus common opponents, strength and results against non-conference opponents, late season performance in the last eight games and strength and results against conference opponents.
Princeton holds #1 in the RPI with a record of 9-1-1 on the season, including three Quad 1 wins over Rutgers, Seton Hall and Cornell. In the Ivy League, Princeton currently sits atop the standings with a 3-0 record.
The top 16 teams rankings have no bearing on the final 2025 48-team bracket, which will be revealed on Monday, November 17. The championship field will be made up of 23 automatic qualifiers and 25 at-large selections, with the top 16 teams receiving first-round byes before hosting second-round games.
The NCAA tournament will open on Friday, Nov. 20, with preliminary-round games taking place at campus sites as teams look to earn a trip to the Men's College Cup. The 2025 Men's College Cup will be held in Cary, North Carolina, with the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 12 and the championship match on Monday, Dec. 15.
The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow as they host Columbia for an Ivy League matchup in Roberts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
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