Is it time for a new top dog in Division II? If the preseason rankings are to be believed, the field has caught up with back-to-back champs Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the Crimson Hawks will face an uphill battle to earn the coveted three-peat this December.

‍

The top spot in the rankings ahead of the 2025 Fall XVs season is currently occupied by a team that didn’t even make it to Houston last season: Montana State University. The Wildcats were very close to qualifying, as they held a 21-point lead over the University of Northern Iowa at halftime of last year’s quarterfinal matchup. But the Panthers clawed their way back over the last 40 minutes and won the game in overtime. UNI went on to finish as the runners up in DII after losing a slugfest against IUP in the final.

‍

Montana State players will tell you they still have a fire in their bellies after that loss, which they proved with a strong second-place finish at the CRCs this Spring. Despite losing two All-American back rowers in Finn Russell (not THAT Finn Russell) and Connor Kelly, the Wildcats have recruited well over the last few years and have built a strong foundation of players. Look for rising Junior Ethan Carlson to help fill the void left by the departing seniors.

‍

MSU is the tip of the spear for a growing talent base out West. Newcomers Boise State, who cracked the Top Ten in their first year in the division. Colorado Mesa, fan favorites at the CRC 7s, will look to carry some of that momentum into the XVs season and should be feisty despite finishing last season unranked. These are some of the big dogs who will be looking to shake up the traditional DII bloc of contenders on the East Coast.

‍

The rest of the field is made up of those powerhouse programs who are well coached and consistently churn out talented teams. A few different bounces of the ball in a rainy semifinal match last Fall and it could have been Norwich hoisting the trophy as they gave IUP all that they could handle. The cadets are losing All-American center Marius Edwards, but fellow All-American Jeffrey Pappalardo returns for his senior season to hopefully propel longtime head coach Bob Weggler’s side over the hump. 

‍

Vermont, led by recent MLR draftee Jack Worobel, will also be strong contenders this season. Worobel was drafted in the third round by the New England Free Jacks. The Catamounts are hoping to progress farther than an opening round playoff loss at Regionals after they were knocked out by UNC-Wilmington and standout back three player Xavier Arrington, who will return for his senior season with the Seahawks. UNCW will hope that they can ride the incredible vibes of their CRC 7s Championship run all the way into December.

‍

The dark horse contender vying for the throne this Fall is Towson University. They recruited a number of experienced players from the area to add to an already feisty side that finished fourth overall in 2024. Despite losing senior Henry Soeken from their engine room, the Tigers retain the third-highest scoring player in last year’s postseason, All-American center Zachary Uhler, setting them up to claim the top spot in the MARC and making them a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.

‍

The two teams that faced off in last year’s championship match, IUP and UNI, are both dealing with the loss of a deep and talented senior class. But neither should be counted out when it comes to making playoff predictions. All-American Santino Fischio is back in the ten shirt and is ready to step up and lead a younger, fitter Crimson Hawk squad according to head coach Seth Erwin. Malcolm Johnson will also be asked to fill a gaping hole at 13 left by senior Dominic Holmes, who led DII in scoring last postseason and willed IUP to the final. The forward pack should also be able to withstand the loss of All-American Trent Stalling with the high-energy depth they have coming off the bench.

‍

UNI is losing three absolute studs in All-Americans Elliott Sinnwell, Jentry Staack, and David Randall. Randall and Sinnwell combined to score 35 points in postseason play last year. The Panthers hope that young players like Ian Kreske and Jake Staack will be able to shoulder the load and keep UNI chopping.

‍

Outside of the top ten, some teams to keep an eye on include St. Louis University – a young squad that gained a lot of valuable experience during their trip to Regionals last November – Marist, Coastal Carolina, and Memphis – who return All-American scrumhalf Caleb Schmidt. Players to keep an eye on include Grand Valley State’s Reinhardt Stipp and RPI’s Quinten Pienaar.