Rounding out our Top 25 for the 2026 D-III college preseason, it's time for the Top 5!
January 16, 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-III Women’s
Contributions from Zack Davis and TJ Lee
1. Wesleyan Vicious Circles
2025 Finish: #1 in Power Rankings, 1st at Nationals, 26-3 record
I promise I’m not contractually obligated to say that Keith Raynor knows ball, but it’s clear that the Wesleyan coaching experiment was successful. It also doesn’t hurt that Milo Brown is a generational talent. Nat Sweet, Nora Jacobson, and Suz Cornell will be missed, but the Vicious Circles are still incredibly talented, and an early favorite for the national championship this season.
2. Middlebury Pranksters
2025 Finish: #3 in Power Rankings, T-3rd at Nationals, 24-3 record
Swans up, the Pranksters are back in the mix for a national title. Ella Widmyer is returning for her sophomore season and will once again try to lead the Pranksters to the promised land. As we said last year though, Middlebury’s recruitment machine is always dialed to eleven, and it will be exciting to see who the Pranksters place around Widmyer. Perhaps Atlanta Ozone vet Lizzie Madden, or Maine YCC product Zora DeSilva?
3. Haverford/Bryn Mawr Sneetches
2025 Finish: #2 in Power Rankings, 2nd at Nationals, 27-8 record
The loss of Zoe Costanza is huge, but keeping Rufus Helmreich and Erica Collin should keep the Sneetches in contention. There are some more seniors expected to be missing as well, but this is not a new misfortune for them. They outscored their pool 39-14 last year at Nationals with Costanza being the only senior present, so this team knows how to have their younger stars step up.
4. Davenport Panthers
2025 Finish: #4 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 18-4 record
For the last two years, Davenport has stayed as a very competitive roster, making deep bracket runs and being the only team at Nationals last year to give Wesleyan a true scare with a universe point showdown in pool play. Lanie O’Neill will be leading as a coach now instead of the gun-slinging handler we’re used to seeing, but Jocelyn Richison returns alongside newcomers with plenty of experience in Kira Straub and Charlee Tannahil, not to mention Elley Smith, who’s appeared on Arizona Lawless and Colorado Alpenglow rosters. Look for the young program to be a threat to contend with come May.
5. Whitman Sweets
2025 Finish: #7 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 20-3 record
One point. That’s how close the Sweets were to making semifinals last year. Gabbie and Katherine Campbell are both back following some huge performances at Nationals, and with a roster expecting to graduate very few from last year, Whitman is poised to handle the Northwest and get back at Lewis & Clark for the quarterfinal loss.
D-III Men’s
Contributions from Josh Katz and Calvin Ciorba
1. Middlebury Pranksters
2025 Finish: #2 in Power Rankings, 2nd at Nationals, 26-6 record
Middlebury was one point short of a championship last year, and bring back just about all the main contributors, including the big three of Peter Mans, Louis Douville Beaudoin, and Oscar de Swaan Arons. With a roster this talented, anything short of a championship has to be considered a disappointment in 2026.
2. Carleton CHOP
2025 Finish: #4 in Power Rankings, T-3rd at Nationals, 27-6 record
The surprise semifinalist of 2025, Carleton CHOP look to improve on their Burlington performance, with eyes on reaching the final for the first time since their 2012 title run. The return of Nathan Wang, Dash Brenner, and Danny Shope bodes well, and they also gain new rookies Chris Eppley (club experience with Sacramento Tower) and Henry Horstman Olson (YCC Superior Mixed), who could give CHOP the push they need to get over the semifinal hump.
3. Elon Big Fat Bomb
2025 Finish: #3 in Power Rankings, T-5th at Nationals, 28-7 record
Elon had their first taste since 2015 of what Nationals was like this past season, falling in quarters as the no.2 seed. Now, with a year of experience under their belts and the final year of the Kalen Morrison and Reed Burkert era, it could be the last open championship window for Big Fat Bomb in the foreseeable future.
4. Lewis & Clark Bacchus
2025 Finish: #1 in Power Rankings, 1st at Nationals, 26-4 record
Last year’s champions may lose their top two cutters Max Zwerin and Leo Farley, but they still have a trio of excellent handlers in Orlando Impas, Sam London, and Charlie Wagner. Plus, they return two-thirds of last year’s COTY staff. Don’t count on the floor falling out on Bacchus just yet.
5. Ave Maria Gyrenes
2025 Finish: NR in Power Rankings, N/A at Nationals, 20-1 record
After a year playing D-I, Ave Maria are back in the People’s Division, where they would’ve been comfortable bid earners last year. Can they repeat the performance after plenty of graduations? An early test at Florida Warm Up will tell us a lot about the Gyrenes’ outlook.
