To top off a hot day of pool play, we're cranking up the heat with a tier list of the teams remaining in contention for a title
May 17, 2026 by Josh Katz in Recap
Ultiworld’s coverage of the 2026 College Championships 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.
WAUKEGAN, IL — Any weather-related concerns for the D-III College Championships were rendered moot on the first day of play. Other than a few heavy gusts of wind, playing conditions were perfect. A light throwers wind, warm temps, and plenty of sun. Too much sun, in fact. With little cloud cover over the late afternoon window, players started to fall victim to the effects of the sun and an inability to stay hydrated. Many players took mid-point injuries to manage their cramps as play overall seemed to melt down into a slog. Cuts were slower and less intentional, players were slow to clear the lane, and execution errors and mental mistakes piled up fast.
In honor of that heat, we’re going to put a spin on the traditional tier list. I present to you, the twelve D-III Men’s teams remaining in championship contention, ordered on the NOAA Heat Index Chart.
Tier 1: Very Warm
Scare POSSIBLE. Exercise caution when playing.
Berry Bucks (80º): Mikey Curtis is the real deal, everyone. He’s not the kind of “every other throw, scoring or assisting 80% of goals” kind of star, but he’s a star nonetheless. You need to know when he’s on the line, and where he is on the field, at all times. Most points, he’s playing in flow, giving Eli Hoshide, Jackson Knox, James Clark, and the rest of his Berry teammates the space to shine. But when the time calls for it, when the team needs him most, he steps into the spotlight and comes up with a big play. His layout block to set up Berry’s game-winning break opportunity against Whitman was the stuff of legends.
D-III College Championships 2026: Tier List – The Heat Index Edition (Men’s Div.) is only available to Ultiworld Subscribers
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