Division I college field hockey is underway; here’s a look at the influence of the BIG10 conference
The NCAA Division I college field hockey season is officially underway. Photo: Jana Benscoter
The NCAA Division I women’s college field hockey season is officially underway as of August 29, with programs nationwide eager to start fresh, meet new expectations, achieve high goals, and pursue their dreams.
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association recently released its 2025 Division I preseason poll. The ACC had all but three of its programs featured, and the BIG10, last year's national title winner, also showed a strong presence.
Of the nine college field hockey teams in the BIG10, Michigan State and Indiana are the only teams not included in the initial ranking.
Last season, the Atlantic 10 Conference had a breakthrough, with both Saint Joseph’s and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst reaching the final four in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
St. Joe's broke down North Carolina's back line in their semi-final match to advance to the 2024 NCAA Division I championship, where they ultimately fell to Northwestern 5-0.
UMass have moved to the Mid-American Conference in the 2025 season.
Field hockey fans have grown accustomed to seeing Northwestern or North Carolina elbow for the top two spots over the past seven seasons. But, with rising studs on multiple Division I rosters across the country, the BIG10 and ACC should prepare for resistance.
BIG10 opening day schedules. All times are ET.
August 29
No. 18 Penn State @ No. 3 Virginia, 5 p.m.
No. 15 Iowa vs No. 20 Wake Forest, in Iowa, 3:30 p.m. (BIG10/ACC Challenge)
No. 4 Maryland vs Stanford, 12 p.m.
No. 7 Michigan vs No. 2 North Carolina, in Iowa, 1 p.m. (BIG10/ACC Challenge)
Michigan State @ Louisville, 12 p.m.
No. 13 Ohio State @ Ball State, 4 p.m.
No. 16 Rutgers vs. Wagner, 11 a.m.
August 30
Indiana vs No. 8 Boston College, in Maine, 1 p.m.
Michigan State vs Ohio University, in Kentucky, 11 a.m.
August 31
No. 7 Michigan vs No. 20 Wake Forest, in Iowa, 12 p.m.
No. 18 Iowa vs No. 2 North Carolina, in Iowa, 2 p.m.
No. 4 Maryland vs Villanova, 2 p.m.
No. 13 Ohio State vs Kent State, 1 p.m.
No. 16 Rutgers @ Vermont, 12 p.m.
No. 1 Northwestern @ Richmond, 12 p.m.
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