NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship - Format

Format

The NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship is a 48-team, single-elimination tournament. 22 spots are reserved for the winners of automatic bids. Conferences granted automatic qualification are:

  • America East Conference
  • Atlantic Coast Conference
  • Atlantic Sun Conference
  • Atlantic 10 Conference
  • Big East Conference
  • Big South Conference
  • Big Ten Conference
  • Big West Conference
  • Colonial Athletic Association
  • Conference USA
  • Horizon League
  • Ivy League
  • Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
  • Mid-American Conference
  • Missouri Valley Conference
  • Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
  • Northeast Conference
  • Pacific-12 Conference
  • Patriot League
  • Southern Conference
  • The Summit League
  • West Coast Conference

Each conference determines the format for their conference championship, which determines the school who receives the automatic bid. Many use conference tournaments, although some conferences award the championship and automatic bid to the regular season champion. The remaining 26 teams have received at-large bids. The at-large teams are selected by a committee consisting of representatives from each of the eight regions the NCAA has divided the country into. The committee uses a number of criteria, the most influential being the Ratings Percentage Index, a mathematical formula designed to objectively compare the results and strength of schedule of all Division I teams.

The top 16 teams are seeded into the bracket and receive first round byes. The other 32 are grouped by geographical proximity. The first four rounds are played on campus sites, with matches being hosted by the higher seed. The College Cup, comprising the semifinal and final matches, is played at a predetermined site.

North Carolina is the reigning champion, having defeated Charlotte in the 2011 final.

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