The field for the 2024 NCAA DI Soccer Championship is now set, with 64 teams preparing for the first round of postseason play this weekend.
All teams are focused on reaching the College Cup, which will be held in Cary, NC, with the semifinals on December 6th and the championship match on December 9th.
Along with the 30 conference tournament champions who automatically qualified for the postseason, the NCAA committee announced the 34 selectees in Monday’s bracket release. The top 32 teams are seeded one through eight in their respective quadrant, ensuring they will only face non-conference opponents through the second round of the tournament.
Tight race for top seeds reflect NCAA talent
In this 43rd edition of the NCAA championship, three of the four No. 1 seeds are making history.
Duke, after finishing the regular season as the top-ranked team, secured the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed for the first time. With the nation’s second-best scoring offense, the Blue Devils are aiming for their first national title.
Joining Duke as first-time No. 1 seeds are USC and Mississippi State. USC achieved this in their first season as a Big Ten team, while SEC’s Mississippi State had their best season yet, finishing with a 16-1-0 record.
Defending champion Florida State rounds out the top seeds, earning their 12th No. 1 seed in NCAA history and sixth consecutive top-seed in a quadrant.
Power Four squads lead NCAA Championship charge
The Power Four conferences dominate the national bracket, with the SEC and Big Ten leading with 10 teams each, followed by the ACC with nine, and the Big 12 with seven.
While the ACC didn’t win the team race, they have seven teams among the Top-4 seeds, making them a tough conference to beat. Half of the top eight teams are from the ACC, with North Carolina and Wake Forest as the second seeds alongside Duke and Florida State.
UNC and Wake Forest have contrasting paths to the tournament, with UNC being a dynasty with 21 national championships, while Wake Forest rebounded after missing last year’s tournament.
Arkansas and UCLA, as No. 2 seeds, join the ACC pairs. Arkansas is a consistent No. 2 seed, while UCLA is looking to showcase their defense as key to championship success.
Parity set to increase NCAA tournament chaos
This season’s competition is fierce due to conference realignment and increased player transfers, creating more parity on the pitch.
Parity isn’t just seen in new top seeds but also in the potential for upsets. In recent conference tournaments, the top seeds didn’t all advance to the finals or win titles, showcasing the unpredictability of college soccer.
How to watch the NCAA Soccer Championship tournament
All 32 first-round matchups will stream on ESPN+, starting with the opening match between No. 8 Utah State and Washington on Friday at 4 PM ET.
Friday will feature 25 matches, followed by six on Saturday. The first chapter of the tournament will conclude with No. 1 USC hosting Sacramento State on Sunday at 5 PM ET.
