2026 Inside Lacrosse Div I Preseason Media Poll

[CuseAlum87]

LOL I resisted posting a response to that guy but couldn't hold myself back. Appears he's a players parent whose not familiar with the landscape of D1. Most of the guys over there are pretty reasonable though, I have had some good conversations with a # of them.

I was going to reply to him as well, but didn't think it would matter, lol. Then I saw your reply and it was what I would have said. My handle on fanlax is OldOrange and I don't post much there, but I did try to explain that the scrimmage was in Ensley and there are no stands for fans. that guy has some crazy narrative going on is head.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I was going to reply to him as well, but didn't think it would matter, lol. Then I saw your reply and it was what I would have said. My handle on fanlax is OldOrange and I don't post much there, but I did try to explain that the scrimmage was in Ensley and there are no stands for fans. that guy has some crazy narrative going on is head.

He's involved in a conversation none of us are invited to apparently. He keeps mentioning things that were never said. From what I know he's a players parent who appears to have no idea of how D1 lax works outside of Hobart.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

ACC​

Storyline: How Blue are the Blue Bloods?
The ACC feels peculiar this year. Syracuse is one of the favorites for the NCAA Championship after making the long-awaited return to Championship Weekend last May. It’s the season Orange fans targeted years ago when they welcomed Joey Spallina and the No. 1 recruiting class.

But Syracuse — like everyone in the always-storied ACC — isn’t exempt from questions. Did the Orange improve enough compared to their peers? And will lapses like they had vs. Maryland in the NCAA Semifinals continue to plague them again?

Notre Dame is facing a year without a Kavanagh and will look new offensively but has the top-ranked recruiting class. North Carolina hasn’t yet seemed to maximize its talent for a full year, but they arguably have the most talented roster in the league. Duke’s ceiling is tough to predict, but they’ll be steadily built from the back end out. Virginia’s 2025 was disappointing, so it’s tough to gauge expectations out of Charlottesville — even with No. 1 freshman Brendan Millon and returners from injury like Sean Browne and Ryan Duenkel.

Kinnear’s Pick: North Carolina
Confidence Meter: Low
Syracuse will be the favorite even if they didn’t receive any first-place votes in the Preseason Media Poll. On paper that makes sense, but you can’t just pick favorites for these. My gut is telling me this is a big Carolina year. It feels like health and maturity are coming together for a deadly combo.

The ACC does not receive an AQ. Those tournament games are important, for sure, given their NCAA-résumé-building quality. But with as much talent on any of the five teams in the ACC, there is potential for anyone to beat anybody. I realistically see Syracuse as neck and neck with the Heels and Notre Dame right there.

Wildcard: Duke
The Blue Devils feel curiously under-reported this offseason. I could see them anywhere from Top 5 to back part of the Top 20. Solid goaltending, capable shutdown defenders, the best d-middie in the land, one of the better incoming freshmen groups, top-end midfielders — it adds up to something, I’m just not sure what.

 

[Lax Mouse]

ACC​

Storyline: How Blue are the Blue Bloods?
The ACC feels peculiar this year. Syracuse is one of the favorites for the NCAA Championship after making the long-awaited return to Championship Weekend last May. It’s the season Orange fans targeted years ago when they welcomed Joey Spallina and the No. 1 recruiting class.

But Syracuse — like everyone in the always-storied ACC — isn’t exempt from questions. Did the Orange improve enough compared to their peers? And will lapses like they had vs. Maryland in the NCAA Semifinals continue to plague them again?

Notre Dame is facing a year without a Kavanagh and will look new offensively but has the top-ranked recruiting class. North Carolina hasn’t yet seemed to maximize its talent for a full year, but they arguably have the most talented roster in the league. Duke’s ceiling is tough to predict, but they’ll be steadily built from the back end out. Virginia’s 2025 was disappointing, so it’s tough to gauge expectations out of Charlottesville — even with No. 1 freshman Brendan Millon and returners from injury like Sean Browne and Ryan Duenkel.

Kinnear’s Pick: North Carolina
Confidence Meter: Low
Syracuse will be the favorite even if they didn’t receive any first-place votes in the Preseason Media Poll. On paper that makes sense, but you can’t just pick favorites for these. My gut is telling me this is a big Carolina year. It feels like health and maturity are coming together for a deadly combo.

The ACC does not receive an AQ. Those tournament games are important, for sure, given their NCAA-résumé-building quality. But with as much talent on any of the five teams in the ACC, there is potential for anyone to beat anybody. I realistically see Syracuse as neck and neck with the Heels and Notre Dame right there.

Wildcard: Duke
The Blue Devils feel curiously under-reported this offseason. I could see them anywhere from Top 5 to back part of the Top 20. Solid goaltending, capable shutdown defenders, the best d-middie in the land, one of the better incoming freshmen groups, top-end midfielders — it adds up to something, I’m just not sure what.

Ultimately, preseason awards and opinions don't matter a bit once the season starts. It's just crazy how much benefit of the doubt UNC is given compared Syracuse.

Duke will likely be a top 5 team this season about halfway through because their schedule doesn't ramp up until late. How many pundits will look at their potential 8-0 start and claim this is Duke's year? Wild that there's been no media coverage or mention of their clearly downgraded slate of games.

I feel like UVA will have a bounce back year if Lars can keep the locker room together. I'm not sold on Notre Dame's offense but the defense could carry the team long enough to get their offensive legs under them.

On the one hand, I get some of the skepticism around Cuse. Can they take the final step? Can they get out of their own way? Can they adapt? Can they be the team everyone is scared to play? Can Gait lead and coach this team to success? I hope so, but they're going to have to go out there and prove it for anyone to believe it.

On the other hand, it just feels like that same skepticism does not extend to teams in NC, even though I'd argue there should be much more of it.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

ACC​

Storyline: How Blue are the Blue Bloods?
The ACC feels peculiar this year. Syracuse is one of the favorites for the NCAA Championship after making the long-awaited return to Championship Weekend last May. It’s the season Orange fans targeted years ago when they welcomed Joey Spallina and the No. 1 recruiting class.

But Syracuse — like everyone in the always-storied ACC — isn’t exempt from questions. Did the Orange improve enough compared to their peers? And will lapses like they had vs. Maryland in the NCAA Semifinals continue to plague them again?

Notre Dame is facing a year without a Kavanagh and will look new offensively but has the top-ranked recruiting class. North Carolina hasn’t yet seemed to maximize its talent for a full year, but they arguably have the most talented roster in the league. Duke’s ceiling is tough to predict, but they’ll be steadily built from the back end out. Virginia’s 2025 was disappointing, so it’s tough to gauge expectations out of Charlottesville — even with No. 1 freshman Brendan Millon and returners from injury like Sean Browne and Ryan Duenkel.

Kinnear’s Pick: North Carolina
Confidence Meter: Low
Syracuse will be the favorite even if they didn’t receive any first-place votes in the Preseason Media Poll. On paper that makes sense, but you can’t just pick favorites for these. My gut is telling me this is a big Carolina year. It feels like health and maturity are coming together for a deadly combo.

The ACC does not receive an AQ. Those tournament games are important, for sure, given their NCAA-résumé-building quality. But with as much talent on any of the five teams in the ACC, there is potential for anyone to beat anybody. I realistically see Syracuse as neck and neck with the Heels and Notre Dame right there.

Wildcard: Duke
The Blue Devils feel curiously under-reported this offseason. I could see them anywhere from Top 5 to back part of the Top 20. Solid goaltending, capable shutdown defenders, the best d-middie in the land, one of the better incoming freshmen groups, top-end midfielders — it adds up to something, I’m just not sure what.

Says you can't just pick the favorites for this than picks Maryland. Lmao

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Honorable Mention: Syracuse

Orange Specialists: LSM Vincent Bologino, LSM Chuck Kuczynski, LSM Dylan Sageder, SSDM Dante Bowen, SSDM Jake Spallina, SSDM Ryder Ochoa, SSDM Jayden Kittelberger

Mullen alone is good enough to get them on this list. Good days against BU for their shorties — notably Ohio State transfer Dante Bowen and junior Jake Spalllina — give some hope their rope unit is up to ACC standards.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Lax Mouse]

Interesting list. I feel like I'd bump Georgetown over Richmond for now.

Feels like a few of the honorable mentions have a lot of question marks, surprised some of them are there and Cuse is not.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

Sorry but I'd take McCool over any of those goalies. Laughable that they put Princeton in front of Cuse.

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Powellfan]

Virginia??? Is ranked???! Based on what??? I don’t usually care for these lists but what in the world is IL smoking over there? Virginia’s defense was not good last year and from the sounds of it they have a very shaking goalie competition playing out. Plus they lost their top LSM. I don’t think I’ve been more shocked to see a unit listed on any of these things.

Say what you will about Syracuse, but how do they have an all American in Billy Dwan, returning ACC goalie of the year and a player in Riley Figueiras who everyone knows is All American quality and not get ranked, let alone given honorable mention. Give me a break.

 

[wgdsr]

Virginia??? Is ranked???! Based on what??? I don’t usually care for these lists but what in the world is IL smoking over there? Virginia’s defense was not good last year and from the sounds of it they have a very shaking goalie competition playing out. Plus they lost their top LSM. I don’t think I’ve been more shocked to see a unit listed on any of these things.

Say what you will about Syracuse, but how do they have an all American in Billy Dwan, returning ACC goalie of the year and a player in Riley Figueiras who everyone knows is All American quality and not get ranked, let alone given honorable mention. Give me a break.

as a uva fan, i was plenty happy with their defense last year overall. maybe 2 - 2 1/2 stinkers, that's a good ratio. i'll take a repeat at that end in 2026.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

Virginia??? Is ranked???! Based on what??? I don’t usually care for these lists but what in the world is IL smoking over there? Virginia’s defense was not good last year and from the sounds of it they have a very shaking goalie competition playing out. Plus they lost their top LSM. I don’t think I’ve been more shocked to see a unit listed on any of these things.

Say what you will about Syracuse, but how do they have an all American in Billy Dwan, returning ACC goalie of the year and a player in Riley Figueiras who everyone knows is All American quality and not get ranked, let alone given honorable mention. Give me a break.

It's almost like the Cuse defense needs to prove something but these other teams with these new goalies don't. One hasn't even made a goalie decision. Disrespectful to the players and Coach O in my opinion.

 

[FloridaCuse]

It's almost like the Cuse defense needs to prove something but these other teams with these new goalies don't. One hasn't even made a goalie decision. Disrespectful to the players and Coach O in my opinion.

Maybe it's Terry Foy's influence.

 

[nocohalo]

Funny thing is I saw Duke fans tonight complaining that IL is trying too hard to make Cuse relevant again

 

[Powellfan]

Funny thing is I saw Duke fans tonight complaining that IL is trying too hard to make Cuse relevant again

My friend, you must be mistaken. Duke does not have lacrosse fans.

 

[Zack80]

It does seem rather curious that on a defense ranking based on the 3 close defensemen and goalie that Syracuse isn't top 5. I'm not really sure that Maryland is #1 either.

 

[Hawknate144]

It does seem rather curious that on a defense ranking based on the 3 close defensemen and goalie that Syracuse isn't top 5. I'm not really sure that Maryland is #1 either.

don't you know Ruppel is just as good if not better than McNaney because Tills said it was a close battle last year, on a side note, Rickie Collins was obviously a football star because according to Fran he was close to Angeli last year.

 

[Lax Mouse]

It does seem rather curious that on a defense ranking based on the 3 close defensemen and goalie that Syracuse isn't top 5. I'm not really sure that Maryland is #1 either.

I think Maryland and Notre Dame in some combo at 1 & 2 makes sense, I wouldn't sell your guys short though!

Definitely agree that Cuse should probably be in that top 5, but the fact they're not at least an HM is a head scratcher.

Hopefully more fuel for the fire for the team (not that they need it).

 

[FloridaCuse]

I think Maryland and Notre Dame in some combo at 1 & 2 makes sense, I wouldn't sell your guys short though!

Definitely agree that Cuse should probably be in that top 5, but the fact they're not at least an HM is a head scratcher.

Hopefully more fuel for the fire for the team (not that they need it).

Terry Foy stikes again.

 

[Zack80]

I think when you do the full defense, with Maryland having experienced ssdms and a talented LSM (Larkin), it might be reasonable to have Maryland at #1.

I don't know that there is any reason to keep banging on Ruppel. We shall soon see how he does.
Right now, the comparison of McCool vs Ruppel would favor McCool.

 

[nocohalo]

My friend, you must be mistaken. Duke does not have lacrosse fans.

They have an online presence. A very annoying presence. And the irony being that the fan in question is from central NY