2026 National Championship Playoff Brackets set for CRAA

Thu, Apr 9, 2026, 6:56 PM
CC
by Calder Cahill.

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.

2026 D1A Playoffs
D1A Challenger Cup

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.

Challenger Cup 2
Official Championship Schedule
Friday, May 1
12:00 PM ET Men's D1AA Semifinal 1
2:30 PM ET Men's D1AA Semifinal 2
5:00 PM ET Men's D1A Challenger Semifinal 1
7:30 PM ET Men's D1A Challenger Semifinal 2
Saturday, May 2
4:00 PM ET Men's D2 National Championship
8:00 PM ET Men's D1A National Championship
Sunday, May 3
11:00 AM ET Men's D1AA Challenger | Third Place
1:30 PM ET Men's D1AA National Championship
4:00 PM ET Men's D1A Challenger Cup

Kuntz Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

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.

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