Automatic Qualifiers and At-Large Teams
The Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament. Seven conferences will receive automatic qualification. The remaining teams are selected at large. Conferences with Automatic Qualifiers (AQs) are:
American East Conference
Colonial Athletic Conference
Eastern College Athletic Association
Great Western Lacrosse League (Lacrosse America)
Ivy Group
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Patriot League
See conferences for members and current standings.
A team must play a minimum of 10 games against Division I opponents during the regular season to be considered for selection. To be considered as an at-large selection, a team must have a .500 or better record against all opponents.
Primary Factors for Selecting At-Large Teams
The Division I Men's Lacrosse Committee employs criteria specified in NCAA Bylaws. When selecting teams for possible at-large berths, primary factors considered when reviewing teams' won-loss records and strength of schedule are (in priority order) as follows:
- Results against teams in descending order, as determined by the "normal RPI [Ratings Percentage Index] rank" used during the selection process, that is, the record against teams ranked 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and team ranked greater than 20. See
current results against teams ranked by RPI.
- Strength-of-schedule index, which is based on the 10 highest-ranking opponents in the RPI mentioned above. See
current SOS based on opponents' RPI ratings.
- "Normal RPI rank" based on teams' entire Division I schedule. This factor includes Division I winning percentage, opponents' records, and opponents' strength of schedule.
Current RPI ratings.
- All three rankings are listed
here.
Secondary Factors for Selecting At-Large Teams
If an analysis of the primary selection factors listed above does not result in a decision by the committee regarding at-large selections, the following secondary criteria are evaluated (although not in priority order):
- Head-to-head competition.
- Results against common opponents.
- Regional advisory committee rankings.
- Results against teams not under consideration.
Input is also provided by regional advisory committees. However, coaches' or other polls or rankings are not used by the selection committee.
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