The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) has officially announced the 2026 Men's D1A National Championship and Challenger Cup Playoff brackets, setting the stage for an exciting postseason as 22 teams fight for a spot in the final from Indianapolis, May 1-3.
The Men's D1A Playoffs will begin on April 11, 2026, with Quarterfinals scheduled for April 18 and Semifinals on April 25. The East and West champions will then meet in Indinapolis for the Men's D1A National Championship, live from Kuntz Stadium on May 2. Watch the Championships LIVE May 1-3 on CRAA Rugby YouTube.
Higher-seeded teams will host throughout the First Round, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals.
CRAA has also announced the D1A Challenger Cup, providing elite postseason competition for Men's D1A programs just outside the national title field. Four teams (Ohio State, St. Thomas, Santa Clara and UC Santa Cruz) will compete in two play in games to face top-seeded Davenport and Utah from Indianapolis.
| Time | Match | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 1 | |||
| 11:00 AM | D1AA National Semifinal #1 | Arizona State | Iowa State |
| 1:30 PM | D1AA National Semifinal #2 | Millennia Atlantic | Western Washington |
| 4:00 PM | D1A Challenger Semifinal #1 | St. Thomas | Davenport |
| 6:30 PM | D1A Challenger Semifinal #2 | Santa Clara | Utah |
| Saturday, May 2 | |||
| 12:00 PM | U23 Bowl | Avaitors U23s | Chicago Griffins |
| 3:00 PM | D2 National Championship | California Lutheran | North Florida |
| 7:00 PM | D1A National Championship | Univ. of Cal - Berkeley | US Naval Academy |
| Sunday, May 3 | |||
| 10:00 AM | D1AA Challenger Cup | Loser Semi #2 | Loser Semi #1 |
| 12:30 PM | D1AA National Championship | Winner Semi #1 | Winner Semi #2 |
| 3:00 PM | D1A Challenger Cup | Winner Semi #1 | Winner Semi #2 |
The Championship match will once again be held at Kuntz Stadium, continuing Indianapolis’ role as a premier destination for collegiate rugby championship events. Further updates, kickoff times, and broadcast information will be announced via CRAA Social Media channels.
