The two-time defending national champion Kentucky Wildcats enter the season at No. 1 Bowling Green, last year’s runner-up, also picks up in the preseason where it left off in December, at No. 2. And 2021 and 2022 champion Virginia Tech remains in the hunt at No. 3.
With the addition of the Lonestar Conference, a pair of new contenders have entered the chat in No. 4 Sam Houston State and eighth-ranked Texas A&M. The Bearkats are reigning league champs, three times running, as well as winners of three-straight Lonestar Bowls. Returning key pieces like hooker Drake Torno and flyhalf Devon Smith from an 11-2 campaign make them an instant title threat.
The Aggies have among the richest histories of any collegiate club between the coasts. And now they have one of the top coaches in all of America in Tui Osborne, who led St. Bonaventure to the 2021 DI national title. The former Eagle took over the program six months ago, making this fall his XVs debut with the Aggies. They tussle with the Bearkats Oct. 25 in Huntsville, TX.
Kentucky retains 14 of its matchday 23 from the national title game in December, headlined by returning All-American wing Joe Keough and brother Luke. However, gone are All-Americans Jack Phillips (flyhalf) and Michael Punzalan (No. 8), as well as standout prop Jared Monnier.
An area of strength for Kentucky should remain the back row, with 2023/2024 All-American Holden Hahn, Everett Marrett, and Gage Curry all back in action. Phillips leaves big boots to fill at flyhalf, and while there’s an open competition, John Dardis is a frontrunner to wear No. 10. The Chicago underclassman helped the USA Rugby South win the Rugby Americas North championship in 2024.
Bowling Green loses only two players from the 23-man squad that fell to Kentucky, with All-Americans Phil Tracey (No. 8) and Joseph Apel (center) headlining a huge returning contingent. Among the fresh faces who could make an impact include Drake Willard, a flanker/center from Detroit who won state championships in both football and rugby as a senior.
The Falcons will be pushed in the MAC, as always, by rival Louisville. Bowling Green bested the Cardinals twice last season, each by a single point. All-American Cameron Donlon has graduated from flyhalf to the coaching staff, which is both a loss and an addition. Longtime head coach Emil Walton moves to Director of Rugby to focus on building a women’s team, and John-Henry Carstens takes over as head coach.
The team that gave Kentucky its closest scare last fall was Clemson. The Tigers lost by a single point in the SCRC final, before falling to Bowling Green in the playoffs a week later. They’ve graduated a handful of starters, but retained All-Americans Peyton Hayes and Campbell Van Rooyen.
There are some exciting newcomers as well, including center Max Wycoff, who comes from the famous Xavier High School program in New York and toured South America with the U18 national team. And coach Troy Hall describes incoming Canadian scrumhalf Griffin Morgan as a “ball of energy.”
Kentucky plays Queens this weekend. Bowling Green is on the road at Buffalo Saturday, when Clemson opens its campaign at home against Lander, and St. Joe’s takes on Fordham. Men’s DIAA college rugby is officially back.
