We reveal our preseason Top 25 for the 2026 D-I college season, continuing with the #6 through #15!
January 15, 2026 by Ultiworld in Rankings
Ultiworld’s College Power Rankings, presented by the National Ultimate Training Camp!
We are excited to present the 2026 preseason College Power Rankings! As we head into a new season, we’ve looked at past performance, roster changes, preseason results, and more to figure out how we think the team could stack up this season. Take a look at our first rankings set of the spring college season and read up about each Top 25 team.
We will be counting down our rankings in three parts:
- #25 to #16
- #15 to #6
- The Top 5
D-I Women’s
Contributions from Kiana Hu, Bridget Mizener, and Edward Stephens
6. North Carolina Pleiades
2025 Finish: #11 in Power Rankings, T-13th at Nationals, 27-8 record
UNC may have ended up on the wrong side of three universe games at the 2025 College Championships, but they also came tantalizingly close to overcoming the eventual champions. Led once again by Bella Russell and Alli Reilly and joined by U20 standout Caroleen DeWolf, the Pleiades should have all the pieces they need to put together a convincing run.
7. Colorado Quandary
2025 Finish: #6 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 27-6 record
It’ll be a bit of a new-look Quandary in 2026 as Clil Philips, Emma Williamson, and Rose Bransford all depart from last year’s quarters squad. Those three made up the lion’s share of touches and goals, but with two dogs — Faye Burdick and Fiona Cashin — plus the addition of a third in Penn grad Chaily Derecskey, Colorado has the pieces to maintain their level.
8. Vermont Ruckus
2025 Finish: #4 in Power Rankings, T-3rd at Nationals, 26-6 record
Vermont got the last laugh in their season long rivalry with Tufts for top honors in New England, reaching semis for the third consecutive season. They have a chance to extend that division-leading active streak with a fourth thanks to the continued development of a phenomenal junior class: Ella Monaghan, Annie Pozzy, and Tatum Cubrilovic. Their ceiling could be a title if superstar Caroline Stone sees the field late in the spring.
9. Tufts EWO
2025 Finish: #5 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 29-2 record
Do we think that EWO have forgotten the disrespect of a three-seed at Nationals despite an undefeated record and a win over Carleton? Do we think they’ve forgotten that they only lost two games all spring, and those by a total of three points? Doubtful. And with Lia Schwartz ready to toss dimes to the likes of Kate Gearing, Annabel White, and Mina Brown, they could make 2026 a Revenge Tour.
10. Cal Poly SLO SLO Motion
2025 Finish: #13 in Power Rankings, T-9th at Nationals, 28-15 record
Can SLO Motion keep it rolling after the program’s first-ever Nationals appearance? The departures of Poppy DeArmond-MacLeod, Margo Donahue, and Brooke Nishida certainly make add a layer of difficulty. U24 star ZsaZsa Gelfand will be a welcome addition, but those are big shoes to fill for a program looking to make it back to the big dance.
11. UC Santa Cruz SOL
2025 Finish: #15 in Power Rankings, T-13th at Nationals, 20-15 record
UC Santa Cruz has been on the up and up even before the boon of Rachel Chang’s talents, and they seem primed to make a statement in 2026. They return two Fury players in Chang and Kai Agueros (practice player), as well as Viola Deszily, Ruby Gholston, and Goodness Nwakudu. Sol have become more familiar with the big stage in recent years, and the high-pressure know-how will undoubtedly raise their ceiling.
12. Michigan Flywheel
2025 Finish: #9 in Power Rankings, T-9th at Nationals, 20-4 record
Pour one out for the end of the Kat McGuire era in Michigan. Flywheel weren’t the deepest team last year to start with, and the departure of their Herculean star means that their 15 new rookies will have to learn from Calliope Cutchins and Zaza Capriles pretty fast. That’s the college division for you!
13. Pennsylvania Venus
2025 Finish: #14 in Power Rankings, T-17th at Nationals, 22-11 record
The teams that grow together succeed together, and if all goes well that’s what will continue to happen with Venus in 2026. Their junior class – led, of course, by All-World-er Grace Maroon – have taken knocks and found flow state moments together. If they’re going to put it together to be a legit bracket team, this is the spring we’ll see it happen.
14. Georgia Athena
2025 Finish: #14 in Power Rankings, T-19th at Nationals, 18-10 record
Get your TiVo set and popcorn popped because another season of the Quincy Booth show is about to begin. Booth’s story arc from wunderkind to plain old college star is reaching its final act, and I’m not going to miss a second of it. Important members of last year’s supporting cast return, too — Keely Baker and Jemia Johnson are back — to make the push back to the top of the Southeast (and maybe even a win or two at Nationals).
15. UC Davis Rogue
2025 Finish: #18 in Power Rankings, T-17th at Nationals, 17-20 record
UC Davis fought their way out of a stacked region to claim the last of the six Southwest bids in 2026. They proved their mettle with close pool play games, and will be bolstered by the additions of U20 invite Julia Segre, who will likely slot into the center handler role previously played by April Lu and Emily Denio. The team will certainly also benefit from veteran players who had valuable playing experience with Sacramento Tower at the 2025 Club Championships.
D-I Men’s
Contributions from Graham Gordon, Alex Rubin, Edward Stephens, and Josh Katz
6. Cal Poly SLO SLOCORE
2025 Finish: #6 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 37-8 record
Few teams get as much out of their roster as SLO does year over year. With Anton Orme, Max Gade, and Alex Nelson returning, that roster has considerable talent. With some of the best coaching in the country, SLO can rely on their defensive schemes to always keep them in a game even against opponents that are more talented on paper.
7. Western Washington DIRT
2025 Finish: #8 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 22-15 record
WWU battled through an up and down regular season to grab one of the Northwest’s bids at Regionals, then surprised everyone in Burlington to reach the quarterfinals. With this experience under the belts of star trio Eli Diamond, Cedar Hines, and Zoli Ishikawa-Szabo, they have all the signs of a team who’s ready for the big time.
8. Brigham Young Chi
2025 Finish: #7 in Power Rankings, DNF at Big Sky Conferences, 18-2 record
The first power rankings of 2025 did not have BYU included. No, that was not a typo or a mistake–the voters just did not think they would be that good. Fast forward through five wins over Nationals teams, a standout campaign from Chad Yorgason, and a masterclass in downfield movement from Simon Dastrup, and suddenly BYU are a top ten team! We won’t overlook them again.
9. Oregon State Beavers
2025 Finish: #15 in Power Rankings, T-19th at Nationals, 27-17 record
Is there a more exciting team to watch in college ultimate? Here at Ultiworld, we typically use the word dynamic to describe a player or team who can do multiple things well on the field. By that definition, Oregon State is a very dynamic team, but what sets them apart is their willingness to do everything from patient small-ball endzone sets to to stall-two full-field rips. Good luck defending against that!
10. Texas TUFF
2025 Finish: #18 in Power Rankings, T-13th at Nationals, 28-11 record
The addition of Cullen Baker could not have come at a better time, as a team full of downfield playmakers like Xavier Fuzat, Owen Smith, and Mitchell Blaha nears its potential. With additional backfield playmaking capabilities, Texas is hoping to be back in the Nationals bracket after missing out on a tie-breaker last season.
11. Michigan MagnUM
2025 Finish: #13 in Power Rankings, T-9th at Nationals, 19-10 record
MagnUM’s 2026 run ended a goal short of quarters in a classic matchup against Western Washington. That loss doesn’t dim their 2026 prospects at all. With one last year of Aaron Bartlett and tons of experienced returning talent, Michigan could be on track for their best finish since 2021. Their prequarters exit seems like the team’s floor at this point.
12. UC Santa Cruz Slugs
2025 Finish: #11 in Power Rankings, T-19th at Nationals, 28-13 record
Despite a disappointing finish to Nationals, 2025 was one of the best seasons in recent history for the Slugs. Led by Toby Warren, UC Santa Cruz brings back most major contributors and is set up to continue to be a force in their region and a tough out on the national stage.
13. Penn State Spank
2025 Finish: #9 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 21-15 record
2025 was another year of growth for Spank, who ended in-state rival Pittsburgh’s decades-long Nationals streak en route to their first OV crown and a first bracket appearance at Nationals in over 20 years. They bring back just about every key contributor from that team, and pick up two more excellent rookies in Nolan McClintic and Becker Joseph. Another Nationals appearance is likely the floor, and the ceiling could be much, much higher.
14. Georgia Tech Tribe
2025 Finish: #24 in Power Rankings, N/A at Nationals, 18-7 record
Is this finally the year that Tribe get over the hump and find themselves at Nationals? The brothers Grossberg had their true club coming-out as key parts of the Philly Pacmen engine at Nationals, and Stefan McCall is an early front-runner for Rookie of the Year—all signs point to a big year for the fellas from Atlanta.
15. Utah Zion Curtain
2025 Finish: #10 in Power Rankings, T-9th at Nationals, 21-16 record
Utah stunned the Nationals field last season, moving from a pool bottom seed into the bracket after a string of upsets. Bringing back every major contributor, Utah hopes to parlay their talent and experience into even stronger results this season. Will Selfridge, Oscar Brown, Grayson Rettberg, Henri de St. Germain, and Rainor Alin form the backbone of a talented team. Joining them is graduate transfer Max Dehlin, a steady handler sure to balance out the high-flying attack that made highlights last season.
