ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference is well represented in the latest NCAA Division II Power Index (NPI) rankings, with multiple SAC programs positioned among the top teams in their respective regions. The first rankings for football, field hockey and women's volleyball were released this week, along with the second set of rankings for men's and women's soccer.
The NCAA Power Index, or NPI, is a ranking system used in Division II and Division III to evaluate team performance. The NPI considers game results and the strength of opponents to calculate a team's NPI value and ranking. The metric will be used to determine the NCAA Division II championship fields during the 2026-27 academic year.
NCAA NPI INFORMATION
The SAC competes in Super Region 2 for football and men's soccer, the Southeast Region for women's soccer and women's volleyball, and the Atlantic Region for field hockey. Eight teams will qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships in football, women's soccer and women's volleyball, while 10 teams will qualify in men's soccer and five in field hockey. Following the automatic qualifiers in each sport, the remaining championship positions will be filled by the highest-ranked eligible teams.
FOOTBALL NPI
NCAA FOOTBALL NPI RANKINGS
The South Atlantic Conference has three teams ranked among the top 10 in the first NCAA Division II Football Super Region 2 NPI rankings. Carson-Newman leads the SAC contingent at No. 4, followed by Mars Hill at No. 7 and Newberry at No. 9.
Eight teams will qualify for the NCAA Division II Football Championship from Super Region 2. The NPI rankings will be released again on October 25, November 1 and November 8, leading up to NCAA Championship selections on November 15.
FIELD HOCKEY NPI
NCAA FIELD HOCKEY NPI RANKINGS
Newberry leads the South Atlantic Conference in the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Atlantic Region NPI rankings, coming in at No. 4. The Wolves are the SAC's highest-ranked program and are positioned among the top teams in the region.
Five teams will qualify from the Atlantic Region for the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship, including automatic qualifiers from the SAC and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, along with three at-large selections.
WOMEN'S SOCCER NPI
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER NPI RANKINGS
The South Atlantic Conference has two teams ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Southeast Region NPI rankings. Catawba leads the SAC contingent at No. 3, followed by Carson-Newman at No. 10. Lenoir-Rhyne is also among the region's top programs, coming in at No. 13.
Eight teams will qualify for the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship from the Southeast Region, including automatic qualifiers from the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and the Peach Belt Conference.
MEN'S SOCCER NPI
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER NPI RANKINGS
The South Atlantic Conference has two teams ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Super Region 2 NPI rankings. Catawba leads the conference at No. 1, while Emory & Henry follows at No. 6. Anderson is the next highest-ranked SAC program at No. 14, followed by Lincoln Memorial at No. 16 and Carson-Newman at No. 17.
Ten teams will qualify for the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship from Super Region 2, which combines the South and Southeast Regions.
Both men's and women's soccer NPI rankings will be updated daily beginning October 26, leading up to NCAA Championship selections on November 9.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL NPI
NCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL NPI RANKINGS
The South Atlantic Conference has five teams ranked among the top 10 in the first NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Southeast Region NPI rankings. Anderson leads the SAC contingent at No. 2, followed by Carson-Newman at No. 5 and Lenoir-Rhyne at No. 7. Wingate and Tusculum round out the group at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively.
Eight teams will qualify for the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship from the Southeast Region, including automatic qualifiers from the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and the Peach Belt Conference.
The women's volleyball rankings will be released again on Monday, October 26, before being updated daily beginning November 2 through NCAA Championship selections on November 15.