The NCAA men's lacrosse tournament bracket is finally here, and as always, Selection Sunday delivered its fair share of surprises alongside the expected outcomes. With 18 teams vying for the national title—10 automatic qualifiers and 8 at-large selections—the committee had tough decisions to make, especially when it came to seeding and home-field advantage for the first round. Let's break down who came out on top and who left the selection show feeling a bit shortchanged.
Winner: Princeton Tigers
The Ivy League champions made a powerful statement over conference tournament weekend, edging out Yale in a nail-biter semifinal before dominating Cornell in the title game. That impressive run earned Princeton the No. 1 overall seed—a spot they haven't held since 2001, when they last hoisted the championship trophy. The Tigers won't complain about their position, and with the top seed comes the luxury of playing at home throughout the early rounds.
Loser: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish had a stellar regular season, handling nearly every opponent except Virginia with ease. But a loss in the ACC semifinals cost them the top seed, which went to Princeton instead. Still, Notre Dame remains one of the favorites in what looks like a wide-open field this year, so don't count them out just yet.
Winner: Richmond Spiders
History was made for the Atlantic 10 champions, who earned the No. 4 seed and will host a round-of-16 game for the first time in program history. Last year, Richmond came within a single goal of reaching the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Cornell. With home-field advantage and a hunger to take the next step, the Spiders are poised to make their first-ever trip to championship weekend.
Winner: Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers couldn't secure an automatic bid since the ACC doesn't have enough teams for a conference tournament, but they made the most of their weekend. Back-to-back top-five wins over Notre Dame and North Carolina vaulted Virginia all the way to the No. 5 seed, earning them a first-round home game against Georgetown. That's a huge momentum swing for a team that had to rely on an at-large bid just days ago.
Loser: Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils squeaked into the tournament with one of the final at-large spots, but they missed the ACC tournament entirely after a disappointing end to the regular season. While Duke's lacrosse program has a storied history, this year's team will need to find its footing quickly if it hopes to make noise in the postseason. The good news? They're in, and anything can happen once the games begin.
As teams prepare for the first round, the bracket is set for an exciting ride. Whether you're a fan of the powerhouse programs or the underdogs looking to make history, this year's tournament promises plenty of drama—and maybe a few more surprises along the way.