Looking at the teams in a position to bring their region a bid...and who could take it from them.
March 6, 2026 by Laura Osterlund in Opinion
Ultiworld’s coverage of the 2026 college ultimate season is presented by Spin Ultimate; all opinions are those of the author(s). Find out how Spin can get you, and your team, looking your best this season.
Welcome back to Bidwatch, where we give you the latest in strength bid distribution predictions. First, a recap of how the bid process works:
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- 20 teams in each D-I division go to Nationals
- 10 spots at Nationals are reserved for the winners of each of the 10 regional tournaments. These are called autobids, and they cannot move from one region to another.
- The remaining 10 bids are called ‘strength bids’ and are distributed to the highest ranked (according to a USAU algorithm) teams not to win their respective regional tournaments. Strength bids are fluid.
With a newly implemented five-bid cap, the bid picture is more open than it has been in years. While it may be cause for a scrap or two at Northwest and Southwest Regionals, it has the makings for an interesting bid fight across the rest of the country.
Atlantic Coast
Current Bid Projection: 2 – North Carolina, James Madison
Potential Bid Earners: American, Georgetown, Virginia
Darkhorse: Liberty
So far this season, James Madison has held onto a second bid for the Atlantic Coast, bolstered by an undefeated run at Commonwealth Cup (Weekend 1). But it’s hard to predict they will keep that bid as the season matures. While their results included three eligible blowouts, all of the teams they beat currently hold a sub-50 rank. The Dukes have already begun to slide in the rankings as other teams gain high-level reps. If James Madison can find favorable results against more mathematically reputable competition, they have a chance of retaining a strength bid; if they remain stagnant, expect that bid to migrate to a different region.
Keep an eye on Virginia, who is part of an eastern contingent heading to California to challenge the west coast at Stanford Invite this weekend. Their performance could be a big boon for them and their connected east coast neighbors.
Great Lakes
Current Bid Projection: 1 – Notre Dame
Potential Bid Earners: N/A
Darkhorse: Michigan
With the Kat McGuire era of Flywheel ended, one could look at Michigan’s handful of losses against lower-ranked teams and write them off quickly. However, that is a mistake if Vivian Hakimi and Calliope Cutchins have anything to say about it. With Northwest Challenge providing a bigger, late-season stage, earning a bid is possible. But their 5-8 record does weigh down their prospects.
If that uncertainty wasn’t enough, Notre Dame Echo are hunting for a return to Nationals. Echo currently hold the autobid and lie right on the bubble. Despite losses to Tufts and UNC, they shouldn’t be counted out yet—especially given the extra bids floating around due to the bid caps in other regions.
Metro East
Current Bid Projection: 1– Yale
Potential Bid Earners: N/A
Darkhorse: NYU, Cornell, Rutgers
Fans of the beleaguered region might be hopeful that Metro East teams are close to the bid bubble, the numbers are as bleak as they have been in past years. Yale Ramona hold the lone bid currently, and the others in the region sit far below. Only an act of divine intervention would give the region a shot at any extra strength bids. The autobid earner keeping the bid, however, is a different question entirely.
New England
Current Bid Projection: 2 – Tufts, Vermont
Potential Bid Earners: Northeastern
Darkhorse: Boston University
If we’re talking bubble teams, Northeastern Valkyries certainly fit the bill. Their performance at Queen City Tune Up was solid, but it wasn’t enough to move the needle. If they have even a decent showing at Stanford Invite, they will likely head home earning a third bid for the region. While Vermont Ruckus are holding their strength bid tightly, they’re not out of the woods quite yet. After a 15-1 loss against UNC, they sit at the top of the bubble. Ruckus have a chance at Stanford Invite to prove they belong, but one bad weekend might see that additional bid slip away.
North Central
Current Bid Projection: 1 – Carleton
Potential Bid Earners: Minnesota, Wisconsin
Darkhorse: N/A
There’s no question that Carleton Syzygy will maintain their status at the top of the rankings. However, the uncertainty remains whether another team in the region can reach the bubble. Minnesota held their own at Presidents’ Day Invite with a notable win against UC Santa Barbara, and Wisconsin Bella Donna have the ingredients to make some noise (pun intended, as Sydney French remains with the team). It’ll likely depend on Stanford Invite; if either of them puts together a strong weekend, they could push into bubble territory. The region hasn’t earned a strength bid since 2019, although it was this trio of teams that did so.
Northwest
Current Bid Projection: 5 – British Columbia, Washington, Victoria, Oregon, Western Washington
Potential Bid-Earners: Utah
Darkhorse: Oregon State
The Northwest empire remains strong. British Columbia and Washington Element are sitting pretty near the top of the Power Rankings and will likely stay there. Despite Oregon Fugue having a slower start than expected, they remain in the top 15 of both the Power and Projected Rankings. Even Victoria Vikes and Western Washington Chaos—two teams that have had shaky results in previous seasons—are performing well, picking up wins against the Southwest. With the bid cap in place, the region is essentially maxed out, and only a disaster would see them drop to four.
Ohio Valley
Current Bid Projection: 1 – UPenn
Potential Bid-Earners: Ohio, Ohio State
Darkhorse: West Chester, Pittsburgh, Penn State
A one-bid Ohio Valley feels like a lock. While previous years have seen more in-region parity, this year’s results show a clear separation. With a 12-2 record, Pennsylvania Venus are the strongest team in the region by far. Grace Maroon is in the kitchen, and she is cooking. While Ohio and Ohio State posted respectable results at Commonwealth Cup, neither did enough to be considered a national contender in the rankings. It would take a legendary run for either to break into strength bid territory.
South Central
Current Bid Projection: 1 – Colorado
Potential Bid-Earners: Texas
Darkhorse: WashU
It is a near certainty that Colorado Quandary will hold onto their autobid. The question for the South Central is whether Texas Melee can earn a strength bid. Eyes have been on Melee all season, especially with their crossover talent from Austin Disco Club, but their results at Queen City Tune Up were underwhelming. Because of that flat early-season turnout, they face an uphill battle to earn a second bid at Stanford Invite. WashU‘s respectable 8-4 record has them at 35th in Projected Rankings, which doesn’t make them super mobile, but does keep their hopes alive on the fringes.
Southeast
Current Bid Projection: 1 – Tennessee
Potential Bid-Earners: Georgia
Darkhorse: Emory, Florida
The Southeast is a fickle division. Currently sitting at the top with the autobid is Tennessee Big Orange Screw. Their 11-0 record speaks for itself, but the lack of elite competition or strong connectivity makes their ranking fragile. With no experience against top-10 teams, it’s hard to see Screw holding onto a strength bid. Then there’s Georgia Athena: on paper, they’ve had a middle-of-the-pack season, but their games against nationally-ranked opponents could be the deciding factor in the bid picture if they find an upset down the stretch. There is a narrow path, an improbable but not impossible outcome, where Tennessee manages to hang tough — perhaps going undefeated at another event without elite threats — and Georgia backdoors into a second bid.
Southwest
Current Bid Projection: 5 – UC Santa Cruz, Stanford, UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Davis
Potential Bid-Earners: Cal Poly SLO, Southern California, UC Santa Barbara
Darkhorse: California
The “Wild Southwest” is getting even wilder. With bids capped at five, the region is already at the limit. If the cap didn’t exist, the Southwest would likely be poised to earn six or seven, given that eight teams from the region are currently in the top 25. The current five bid-earners lie safely away from the cutoff, while Cal Poly SLO Motion, USC Hellions of Troy, and UC Santa Barbara Burning Skirts all sit just underneath. With this large a safety net, everything is adding up for a bid-fertile Regionals with a lot of eager challenges ready to take one for themselves.
