The 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament will be the 65th edition of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, a tournament that determines the national champion of NCAA Division I men’s college soccer in the United States. The tournament will begin on November 20, 2024, and end with the College Cup scheduled for December 13โ16, 2024.
The tournament will feature 64 teams, including the automatic qualifiers from each of the 20 conferences, 38 at-large teams, and six teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) that receive automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament through the College Football Playoff (CFP). The selection committee will announce the field of 64 on November 13, 2024.
The First Four will take place on November 20โ21, 2024, with the winners advancing to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The first round will be played from November 23โ25, 2024, followed by the second round from November 30 to December 2, 2024. The third round will take place on December 7โ9, 2024, with the winners advancing to the College Cup held at a predetermined site.
2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament will be the 65th edition of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, a tournament that determines the national champion of NCAA Division I men’s college soccer in the United States.
- 64 teams
- 20 conference automatic qualifiers
- 38 at-large teams
- 6 ACC/SEC automatic bids
- First Four
- First round
- Second round
- Third round
- College Cup
The tournament will begin on November 20, 2024, and end with the College Cup scheduled for December 13โ16, 2024.
64 teams
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament will feature 64 teams, including the automatic qualifiers from each of the 20 conferences, 38 at-large teams, and six teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) that receive automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament through the College Football Playoff (CFP).
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- Automatic qualifiers:** Each of the 20 NCAA Division I conferences will receive one automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The automatic qualifiers are determined by the conference tournament champions.
**Details:** The conference tournament champions from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC will receive automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. The other 15 conference tournament champions will also receive automatic bids.
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** - At-large teams:** The NCAA Tournament selection committee will select 38 at-large teams to participate in the tournament. The at-large teams will be selected based on their regular season record, strength of schedule, and other factors.
**Details:** The at-large teams will be announced on November 13, 2024.
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** - ACC/SEC automatic bids:** The ACC and SEC will each receive six automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament through the College Football Playoff (CFP). The six teams from each conference will be selected based on their regular season record and strength of schedule.
**Details:** The ACC and SEC will each receive three automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament through the CFP. The three teams from each conference will be selected based on their regular season record and strength of schedule.
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The 64 teams will be seeded 1-16 based on their regular season record, strength of schedule, and other factors. The top 16 teams will receive a bye into the second round of the tournament.
20 conference automatic qualifiers
The 20 conference automatic qualifiers for the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament will be determined by the conference tournament champions. The following conferences will receive one automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament:
- America East Conference
- American Athletic Conference
- Atlantic 10 Conference
- Atlantic Coast Conference
- Big East Conference
- Big Sky Conference
- Big South Conference
- Big Ten Conference
- Big 12 Conference
- Colonial Athletic Association
- Conference USA
- Horizon League
- Ivy League
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
- Mid-American Conference
- Missouri Valley Conference
- Northeast Conference
- Pac-12 Conference
- Patriot League
- Southeastern Conference
- Southern Conference
- Summit League
- Sun Belt Conference
- West Coast Conference
- Western Athletic Conference
The conference tournament champions will be determined between November 10-20, 2024.
38 at-large teams
The NCAA Tournament selection committee will select 38 at-large teams to participate in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament. The at-large teams will be selected based on their regular season record, strength of schedule, and other factors.
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- Regular season record:** The committee will consider the overall and conference records of the teams under consideration. Teams with strong regular season records will be more likely to receive an at-large bid.
**Details:** The committee will consider the overall and conference records of the teams under consideration. Teams with strong regular season records will be more likely to receive an at-large bid.
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** - Strength of schedule:** The committee will also consider the strength of schedule of the teams under consideration. Teams that have played a challenging schedule will be more likely to receive an at-large bid.
**Details:** The committee will consider the strength of schedule of the teams under consideration. Teams that have played a challenging schedule will be more likely to receive an at-large bid.
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** - Other factors:** The committee may also consider other factors, such as the team’s performance in recent games, the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll, and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament.
**Details:** The committee may also consider other factors, such as the team’s performance in recent games, the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll, and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament.
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The at-large teams will be announced on November 13, 2024.
6 ACC/SEC automatic bids
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) will each receive six automatic bids to the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament through the College Football Playoff (CFP). The six teams from each conference will be selected based on their regular season record and strength of schedule.
The ACC and SEC are the only two conferences that receive automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament through the CFP. This is because the ACC and SEC are considered to be the two strongest conferences in college soccer.
The six teams from each conference will be selected by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The committee will consider the following factors when selecting the teams:
- Regular season record
- Strength of schedule
- Head-to-head results
- Other factors, such as the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament
The six teams from each conference will be announced on November 13, 2024.
First Four
The First Four is a play-in round that will take place on November 20โ21, 2024. The four lowest-seeded teams in the tournament will compete in the First Four, with the winners advancing to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The First Four was introduced in 2019 as a way to give more teams a chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to the introduction of the First Four, only 64 teams participated in the NCAA Tournament. With the addition of the First Four, 68 teams now participate in the tournament.
The four teams that participate in the First Four will be determined by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The committee will consider the following factors when selecting the teams:
- Overall record
- Strength of schedule
- Head-to-head results
- Other factors, such as the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament
The four teams that participate in the First Four will be announced on November 13, 2024.
First round
The first round of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament will be played from November 23โ25, 2024. The 32 winners from the First Four and the 32 automatic qualifiers and at-large teams will compete in the first round.
The first round will be a single-elimination tournament, with the winners advancing to the second round. The first round games will be played at campus sites.
The matchups for the first round will be determined by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The committee will consider the following factors when determining the matchups:
- Seedings
- Geography
- Head-to-head results
- Other factors, such as the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament
The matchups for the first round will be announced on November 13, 2024.
Second round
The second round of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament will be played from November 30 to December 2, 2024. The 16 winners from the first round will compete in the second round.
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- 16 teams:** The second round will feature the 16 winners from the first round.
**Details:** The 16 winners from the first round will be seeded 1-16 based on their regular season record, strength of schedule, and other factors.
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** - Single-elimination:** The second round will be a single-elimination tournament, with the winners advancing to the third round.
**Details:** The second round games will be played at campus sites.
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** - Matchups:** The matchups for the second round will be determined by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
**Details:** The committee will consider the following factors when determining the matchups:
- Seedings
- Geography
- Head-to-head results
- Other factors, such as the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament
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** - Announcement:** The matchups for the second round will be announced on November 26, 2024.
**Details:** The second round games will be played at campus sites.
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The eight winners of the second round will advance to the third round.
Third round
The third round of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament will be played on December 7โ9, 2024. The eight winners from the second round will compete in the third round, with the winners advancing to the College Cup.
The third round will be a single-elimination tournament, with the winners advancing to the College Cup. The third round games will be played at campus sites.
The matchups for the third round will be determined by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The committee will consider the following factors when determining the matchups:
- Seedings
- Geography
- Head-to-head results
- Other factors, such as the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament
The matchups for the third round will be announced on December 3, 2024.
College Cup
The College Cup is the final stage of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament. The College Cup will be held from December 13โ16, 2024, at a predetermined site.
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- Four teams:** The College Cup will feature the four winners from the third round.
**Details:** The four teams will be seeded 1-4 based on their regular season record, strength of schedule, and other factors.
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** - Single-elimination:** The College Cup will be a single-elimination tournament, with the winners advancing to the championship game.
**Details:** The College Cup games will be played at a predetermined site.
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** - Matchups:** The matchups for the College Cup will be determined by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
**Details:** The committee will consider the following factors when determining the matchups:
- Seedings
- Geography
- Head-to-head results
- Other factors, such as the team’s ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll and the team’s history of success in the NCAA Tournament
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** - Announcement:** The matchups for the College Cup will be announced on December 10, 2024.
**Details:** The College Cup games will be played at a predetermined site.
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The winner of the College Cup will be crowned the NCAA Men’s Soccer National Champion.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament:
Question 1: When will the tournament be held?
Answer: The tournament will begin on November 20, 2024, and end with the College Cup scheduled for December 13โ16, 2024.
Question 2: How many teams will participate in the tournament?
Answer: 64 teams will participate in the tournament, including the automatic qualifiers from each of the 20 conferences, 38 at-large teams, and six teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) that receive automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament through the College Football Playoff (CFP).
Question 3: How will the tournament be formatted?
Answer: The tournament will be formatted as follows:
- First Four: The four lowest-seeded teams in the tournament will compete in the First Four, with the winners advancing to the first round.
- First round: The 32 winners from the First Four and the 32 automatic qualifiers and at-large teams will compete in the first round.
- Second round: The 16 winners from the first round will compete in the second round.
- Third round: The eight winners from the second round will compete in the third round.
- College Cup: The four winners from the third round will compete in the College Cup, which will be held at a predetermined site.
Question 4: Who are the favorites to win the tournament?
Answer: The following teams are considered to be the favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament:
- Indiana University
- Stanford University
- University of Virginia
- University of North Carolina
- Clemson University
Question 5: Where can I watch the tournament?
Answer: The tournament will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU.
Question 6: How can I purchase tickets to the tournament?
Answer: Tickets to the tournament can be purchased through the NCAA website.
We hope this FAQ has been helpful. If you have any other questions, please visit the NCAA website.
In addition to the FAQ, here are a few tips for following the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament:
Tips
Here are a few tips for following the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament:
Tip 1: Pick a team to follow
If you’re not already a fan of a particular college soccer team, pick one to follow during the tournament. This will make the tournament more exciting and give you a rooting interest.
Tip 2: Watch the games on TV or online
The tournament will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. You can also watch the games online at ESPN.com or the ESPN app.
Tip 3: Attend a game in person
If you’re able to, attending a game in person is the best way to experience the excitement of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament. Tickets can be purchased through the NCAA website.
Tip 4: Follow the tournament on social media
The NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament has a strong presence on social media. You can follow the tournament on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to get the latest news, highlights, and analysis.
We hope these tips help you enjoy the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament!
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament is sure to be an exciting event. With 64 teams competing for the national championship, there are sure to be plenty of upsets and thrilling finishes.
Conclusion
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament is shaping up to be an exciting event. With 64 teams competing for the national championship, there are sure to be plenty of upsets and thrilling finishes.
Here is a summary of the main points:
- The tournament will begin on November 20, 2024, and end with the College Cup scheduled for December 13โ16, 2024.
- 64 teams will participate in the tournament, including the automatic qualifiers from each of the 20 conferences, 38 at-large teams, and six teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) that receive automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament through the College Football Playoff (CFP).
- The tournament will be formatted as follows:
- First Four: The four lowest-seeded teams in the tournament will compete in the First Four, with the winners advancing to the first round.
- First round: The 32 winners from the First Four and the 32 automatic qualifiers and at-large teams will compete in the first round.
- Second round: The 16 winners from the first round will compete in the second round.
- Third round: The eight winners from the second round will compete in the third round.
- College Cup: The four winners from the third round will compete in the College Cup, which will be held at a predetermined site.
- The following teams are considered to be the favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament:
- Indiana University
- Stanford University
- University of Virginia
- University of North Carolina
- Clemson University
We hope you enjoy following the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament!