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The 16-team college field hockey tournament bracket is set, featuring UNC contending for their third straight title

November 13, 2024
With a major conference tournament upset behind us, the postseason field is officially set. Eighteen teams will compete in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship, with four battling in today’s play-in games before the first round begins on Friday.
CollegeField Hockey
The 16-team college field hockey tournament bracket is set, featuring UNC contending for their third straight titleThe 16-team college field hockey tournament bracket is set, featuring UNC contending for their third straight title
SOURCE: UNC Field Hockey/X

The GIST: With a major conference tournament upset behind us, the postseason field is officially set. Eighteen teams will compete in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship, with four battling in today’s play-in games before the first round begins on Friday. Here’s everything you need to know:

How it works: Ten teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments, while eight others received at-large bids based on their regular-season performance, strength of schedule, and other factors.

  • In today’s play-in matchups, Delaware (11-9) takes on Fairfield (12-8) at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Miami Ohio (13-7) playing Vermont (11-8) at 3 p.m. ET. The winners of each match will have the honor of facing powerhouses No. 1 seed UNC and No. 2 Northwestern, respectively. *gulps*

Teams to watch: After winning the last two titles, the UNC Tar Heels are the clear favorites to three-peat. Led by ACC Coach of the Year and former player Erin Matson, the undefeated Tar Heels have lost just three games over the last three seasons. Talk about dominance.

  • UNC’s biggest competition? The aforementioned Northwestern Wildcats, who also went undefeated until Michigan pulled off a stunning 1–0 upset in the Big Ten title game over the weekend.
  • The Wildcats have plenty of championship experience, winning the title in 2022 and facing UNC in the finals in both 2023 and 2024. A powerhouse rematch seems almost inevitable.
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