College Lacrosse 2026: Your Complete Guide

NCAA college lacrosse is the highest level of amateur lacrosse in the US, featuring over 500 programs across Division I, II, and III for both men and women.

• •Division I programs offer athletic scholarships, compete in power conferences, and produce the majority of pro players.
• •The season runs from February through Memorial Day, culminating in championship tournaments broadcast on ESPN.
• •Division II features competitive scholarship programs with slightly fewer schools.
• •Division III emphasizes academics — no athletic scholarships, but highly competitive lacrosse (e.g., Tufts, Salisbury).
• •Whether you're a recruit, fan, or parent, understanding the college landscape helps you appreciate the sport's depth and find your path forward.

Off-season recruiting, transfer portal, coaching carousel, and 2027 preseason rankings updates. Recent: new split DI recruiting calendar took effect (men's contact opened September 9; women's opened September 1); Penn State lands wave of 2028 commitments; top-ranked 2028 prospect Maddie Moran commits to Maryland; NCAA unifies women's championships for 2027 & 2028; all DI men's head-coaching openings filled.

• •October 13 — DI women's championship schedule changes for 2027: The NCAA approved Thursday first-round games and Saturday second-round games, replacing Friday and Sunday. Quarterfinals will be split between Wednesday and Thursday rather than all played Thursday, preserving the recovery period after the second round and expanding viewing opportunities. This preliminary-round change applies to DI women, not all six NCAA lacrosse championships. See the official NCAA women's hub for current schedules and broadcast information.
• •October 7 — College lacrosse in the community: North Carolina announced its October 28 Heel-O-Ween LaxBall fundraiser for UNC Children's Hospital. The men's and women's lacrosse programs will participate in the tennis-ball event. This is a community benefit, not an NCAA lacrosse game or ranking result. See UNC's official announcement for current event information.
• •🕛 September 9: New men’s DI recruiting-contact date took effect — under NCAA legislation adopted June 29, 2026, DI men’s coaches may first call/text/offer the Class of 2028 at 7 a.m. on the Wednesday after Labor Day (September 9, 2026), replacing the old September 1 midnight date. Women’s DI kept September 1 of junior year, now at noon ET. Expect the first men’s 2028 verbals through September.
• •🕛 September 10: Penn State lands 2028 recruiting wave — four-star midfielder Callie Ryan (Sept 9) and Inside Lacrosse five-star midfielder Ava von Kleeck (Sept 10, Nyack, N.Y.) committed within the new window’s first 48 hours; four-star attacker Viviana Beardsley (North Syracuse, N.Y.) followed September 12. First full 2028 class of the Kayla Treanor era.
• •🆕 September 4: Top-ranked 2028 recruit Maddie Moran commits to Maryland — Maryvale (Md.) attacker and the No. 1 player in the 2028 class; second top-ranked Terps recruit with family program ties in three years (Cathy Reese recruiting momentum for 2027-28 classes).
• •🆕 August 19: NCAA unifies women’s lacrosse championships for 2027 and 2028 — first time all three divisions (DI/DII/DIII) will hold finals at one site; the 2027 finals are May 28-30, with the three divisions also sharing a championship site in 2028. DI semis Friday, DII & DIII titles Saturday, DI final Sunday.
• •🆕 August 14: Shannon Smith steps down from Hofstra after 14 seasons — all-time wins leader for the Pride (112 wins); move announced Friday.
• •🆕 August 14: Abby Thorne (24) named Coastal Carolina women's HC — youngest DI women's lacrosse head coach; was assistant at Coastal Carolina last season; Pitt grad, Australia World Championship player.
• •🆕 August 13: NCAA women's lacrosse rules changes approved for 2026-27 — revised penalty structure aligned with foul severity, expanded video review (coaches only, 2-min limit, flopping now reviewable as flagrant), timing restrictions on review requests.
• •🆕 August 12: VMI hires Mike Daly as men's HC — 3x NCAA DIII champion at Tufts, prev HC at Brown (2016-24), recent stops at Maryland and Stony Brook; replaces Taylor Mendoza (moved to Trinity College DIII).
• •🆕 August 9: USA Lacrosse way-early 2027 Women's DI Rankings published (August 3-7) — North Carolina #1, Northwestern #2, Maryland #3, Stony Brook #4, Navy #5. Full top 25 by Beth Ann Mayer and Emilia Reay.
• •🆕 August 9: Federal court rules HS class of 2022 athletes eligible for 5th season (August 3) — U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver granted preliminary injunction in Wisne et al v. NCAA; NCAA CLO Scott Bearby condemned; appeal expected.
• •🆕 August 9: Syracuse lawsuit update — Spallina and Dwan no longer part of amended suit; Jacksonville's Aaron Toguri added as plaintiff.
• •🆕 August 3: USA Lacrosse way-early 2027 Men's DI Rankings published (July 27-31) — Notre Dame #1, North Carolina #2, Princeton #3, Duke #4, Penn State #5. Full top 25 by Patrick Stevens.
• •🆕 August 3: NCAA changes ball color & expands video review for men's lacrosse (July 28) — fluorescent green/yellow balls recommended for 2026-27, mandated for 2027-28; expanded coach challenge capabilities.
• •🆕 August 3: UMBC hires Mike Faith as women's lacrosse head coach (July 27) — 300+ career wins, previously built F&M into DIII powerhouse (4 Final Fours); replaces Amy Slade (14 years).
• •🆕 July 26: NCAA committees recommend simplified penalty structure for women's lacrosse (July 21) — proposed 2026-27 rule changes add clarity to illegal checks/contact, address flopping.
• •🆕 July 26: USA Lacrosse "12 Transfers Who Could Shape the 2027 Women's Lacrosse Title Race" (July 17) — key women's portal moves tracked for 2027 season.
• •🆕 July 26: Timothy Shannehan (Boston U. -> Michigan) transfers (July 16) — reunites with brother at Michigan; Shannehan led DI attack with 76 pts (5.43 PPG) in 2026.
• •🆕 July 26: NCAA "5-in-5" rule now in effect (June 30) — limits roster movement to 5 players over 5 years; coaches adjusting to new legislation.
• •🆕 July 22: USA Lacrosse "Top 11 Impact Transfers" published July 21 — Ohio State, Rutgers, and Maryland among programs that improved most through the portal.
• •🆕 July 17: Casey Powell named Le Moyne men's head coach (July 16) — Syracuse legend gets first collegiate HC gig; replaces Dan Sheehan (retired, 29 years, 6 DII titles).
• •🆕 July 13: UMBC hires James Purpura (Ohio State OC) to lead men's lacrosse, replacing Ryan Moran.
• •Live period active: NCAA July dead period ended July 31, 2026 — live recruiting period now active as of August 1.
• •2026 Transfer Portal — CLOSED June 8: All commitments finalized for 2026-27.
• •Portal Notable Moves (Men's): Virginia landed Colgate defender Aidan Murnane and Bryant attackman Johnny Hackett; Syracuse added Lafayette midfielder Cooper Pasko and Vermont midfielder Tristan Whitam.
• •Portal Notable Moves (Women's): Kate Galica to UNC; Sarah Waits (Yale → Georgetown); Anna Hackett (Elon → Florida State); Natalie Shurtleff (Clemson → Boston College).
• •Coaching Changes — CONFIRMED: Kevin Cassese named Virginia HC (May 26), replacing Lars Tiffany (fired May 18 after 10 years, 2 titles 2019 & 2021, 2026 ACC title).
• •DI Men’s openings filled: Virginia (Kevin Cassese, May 26); Fairfield (John Odierna, June 9); Vermont (Drew Kelleher, June 8); UMass Lowell (Adrian Torok-Orban, July 1); UMBC (James Purpura, July 13); Mercer (James Chakey, July 24); VMI (Mike Daly, August 12). All DI men’s openings filled.
• •DI Women’s openings filled: USC (Sam Apuzzo, June 17); Manhattan (Rob Grella, May 13); Old Dominion (Lauren Gunning, June 8); Longwood (Faith Flanagan, June 15); Butler (Leah Rubino, July 2); Furman (Rachel Shuck Whitten, July 7); Lafayette (Kristen Nicholson, June 26); Charlotte (Tianna Wallpher); East Carolina (Haley Hicklen); UMBC (Mike Faith, July 27); Coastal Carolina (Abby Thorne, August 14). Remaining open: Central Michigan, Hofstra (Shannon Smith stepped down August 14).
• •🆕 June 23 — LEGEND RETIRES: Jim Berkman retires from Salisbury after 38 years — 13 NCAA DIII titles, .902 winning %, 678 career wins. Justin Axel named interim HC.
• •2027 Men's DI Championship: May 29-31, 2027 (per NCAA.com). Consult the official NCAA schedule for current details.
• •2027 Women’s Championships (All Divisions): May 28-30, 2027. First-ever joint DI/DII/DIII women’s championship weekend, with the divisions also sharing a championship site in 2028 (per NCAA, August 19).
• •2026 NCAA lacrosse championships drew combined 1.25M viewers on ESPN — men's final 778K (most in 19 years), women's final 470K (most on record).

DII and DIII lacrosse are thriving. DII features competitive scholarship programs, while DIII emphasizes academics and has produced champions like Tufts and Salisbury. 2027 way-early rankings coming this fall.

• •October 12 — NCAA Power Index explained for the 2026-27 season: The NCAA clarified how NPI supports championship ranking and at-large selection. Division II adopted NPI for team sports beginning in 2026-27; Division III has used it since 2024-25. For men's and women's DII lacrosse, the NCAA's sport-specific resource lists separate settings: results and opponent strength matter, but the two lacrosse formulas are not identical. Division II's regional allocation structure still applies. This is selection-process guidance, not a new preseason poll or a change to automatic qualification.
• •🆕 August 19: NCAA announces first-ever joint women’s lacrosse championship weekend for 2027 — DI, DII, and DIII finals together May 28-30, 2027, with the divisions also sharing a championship site in 2028.
• •🏆 DIII Men's Champion: Tufts — 3rd straight title (6th in program history), defeating RIT 17-11; led 11-6 at halftime.
• •🏆 DII Men's Champion: Tampa — OT win 12-11 over Adelphi; Tommy Ortega game-tying goal + OT winner; avenges 2025 OT final loss.
• •🏆 DIII Women's Champion: Middlebury — 5th consecutive title, beating Wesleyan (CT) 8-6; all-NESCAC final.
• •🏆 DII Women's Champion: Florida Southern — 9-7 over Maryville (MO) for 2nd title (first since 2016).
• •DIII Women's SF: Middlebury 10, Tufts 9 (OT) — Panthers survive dramatic rally; Caroline Adams GWG in OT. Wesleyan (CT) 5, Salisbury 4 — Cardinals advance to first-ever championship.
• •DIII Men's SF: Tufts 23, Wesleyan (CT) 7 — Jumbos dominant.
• •DII Semifinals: Adelphi 19, Molloy 4; Tampa 13, Anderson (SC) 7.
• •🆕 June 10: Le Moyne legend Dan Sheehan retires after 29 years and 6 DII championships. Replaced by Casey Powell (July 16). Mike Daly, 3x DIII champ at Tufts, moves to VMI (DI) as HC (August 12).
• •📺 June 2: 2026 NCAA championship broadcasts drew combined 1.25M viewers on ESPN — both finals setting multi-year records.

All data sourced from official NCAA publications, NCAA.com brackets and stats (through May 25, 2026), USILA polls, IWLCA coaches poll, USA Lacrosse, and verified lacrosse media outlets. Reviewed weekly year-round, including the active NCAA season, for results, rankings, coaching changes, recruiting, and transfer portal news. For current schedules and broadcast information, visit the NCAA men's lacrosse hub and the NCAA women's lacrosse hub.