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2026 Bracketology: The Road to the Aud

It bodes the question for the teams near the top: would you rather have the first round bye and sit home, or play Week 1, boat race a team that is obviously lesser which can only build momentum as you move on
The boat racing doesn’t happen if the lower quality teams don’t make the tournament to begin with. Hamilton doesn’t boat race a Babson or Curry, they boat race a Neumann or Westfield St. That’s my point.
 
Starting to look like Salve is positioning themselves well for an at large. They likely win out and finish 18-2. On top of the MASCAC and MAC getting autobids, both winners wont be higher than 25-30 in the NPI, you let a team with 1 good win and a bottom 5 SOS in the country in. Leaving some quality teams at home in the process.
Not even 15 minutes later and they lose to Anna Maria 1-0. Still somehow they hang on to one of the at large bids. Whats even crazier is their last game is feb 10th. 1st round is March 14th. They could go a whole month without playing.
 
So through tonight's game, this is what I have. It's the no flights until the Frozen Four version, which is fun. There's ways you can add flights to make it a true bracket but like we've established, who knows if that's going to happen


CNE: Endicott (3)
Little East: Norwich (19)
MAC: Neumann (33)
MASCAC: Anna Maria (31)
MIAC: Saint John’s (22)
NCHA: Adrian (10)
NESCAC: Hamilton (2)
SUNYAC: Hobart (1)
UCHC: Utica (7)
WIAC: UW-Eau Claire (18)

At-Large:

Aurora (4)
Oswego (5)
Bowdoin (6)
Salve Regina (8)

Round 1:

Saint John’s @ Eau Claire
Adrian @ Oswego
Neumann @ Hamilton
Anna Maria @ Endicott
Norwich @ Bowdoin
Salve Regina @ Utica

QF:

Adrian/Oswego @ #1 Hobart
Salve Regina/Utica @ Neumann/#2 Hamilton
Norwich/Bowdoin @ Anna Maria/#3 Endicott
Saint John’s/Eau Claire @ #4 Aurora
 
Starting to look like Salve is positioning themselves well for an at large. They likely win out and finish 18-2. On top of the MASCAC and MAC getting autobids, both winners wont be higher than 25-30 in the NPI, you let a team with 1 good win and a bottom 5 SOS in the country in. Leaving some quality teams at home in the process.
A nightmare scenario for bubble teams.
 
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