NCAA BRACKET

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference will send three teams to the 2026 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship as the tournament field was announced Sunday evening. Northwestern earned an automatic berth while Maryland and Iowa received at-large berths. Northwestern (No. 1) and Maryland (No. 2) are the top seeds overall and will host preliminary rounds while Iowa, a No. 7 seed, will travel to Maryland.
 
Opening round matches of the NCAA Tournament begin Wednesday (Nov. 11) with first and second round games slated for Friday (Nov. 13) and Sunday (Nov. 15) respectively. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Four of the 18 teams in the bracket will advance to the NCAA Semifinals scheduled for Nov. 20 at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Ky. The NCAA Final will take place on Nov. 22. All four games from Championship Weekend will air on ESPNU.
 
2026 NCAA FIELD HOCKEY TOURNAMENT (Big Ten schedule)
Single-Elimination
First Round | Friday, November 13
 
Saint Joseph (11-9)/Vermont (14-5) at #1 Northwestern (18-2)
Lakeside Field, Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Two-time defending NCAA champions, the Wildcats are making their 22nd tournament appearance, having qualified for eight-straight seasons. They will play the winner of an opening round match between Saint Joseph and Vermont scheduled for Wednesday.
 
Fairfield (12-7)/Wagner (11-7) at #2 Maryland (18-2)
Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex, College Park, Md.
12 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Terrapins are making their 37th trip to the NCAAs, the second-most appearances all-time. Maryland will play the winner of the Fairfield/Wagner opening round match slated for Wednesday.
 
Duke (12-5) vs. #7 Iowa (13-5)
Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex, College Park, Md.
2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Hawkeyes are appearing in their 30th NCAA postseason and for the eighth time in nine years.