The 2026 NCBA DIII Season kicks off in 9 days! Sacred Heart secures all 5 of the possible first place votes as they look to make a splash in their first year with Division III.
In total, 17 different teams received votes in the preseason poll, highlighting the depth across Division III and the number of programs with legitimate postseason aspirations.
Check out the full results HERE!
Next Poll will be released February 12th.
DIVISION III TEAM PREVIEWS | DAY 3 OF 3
District IV
Roster movement and realignment have reshaped District IV over the past few seasons. UW–Stevens Point lifted the trophy in 2025, while UW–River Falls (2024) and MSOE (2023) have since climbed to Division II, once again leaving the door open for a fresh contender to take control.
The district’s landscape has shifted further with new arrivals across multiple conferences, including Lewis and Maryville in the South and Adrian and Hillsdale in the East — programs eager to make immediate statements.
Early standings have delivered plenty of intrigue. In the East, Adrian sits atop the table at 4–0 with Oakland (3–1) right behind. The North has produced one of the tightest races so far, with UW–Stevens Point and Winona State deadlocked at 4–2. Meanwhile in the South, NIU leads at 2–0, chased closely by Bradley (3–1).
Saginaw Valley State remains another storyline worth tracking after last year’s trip to the district championship game. With only four returners back in the lineup, the Cardinals enter the spring with a new-look roster and plenty of fresh contributors aiming to gel quickly.
With new teams, tight early standings, and former powers shifting divisions, District IV is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable races in Division III this season.
Be sure to check all the District IV Team Previews to see how everyone’s looking heading into the Spring 2026 season!
The 2026 Rawlings Division III Preseason Rankings will be released this Thursday!
DIVISION III TEAM PREVIEWS | DAY 3 OF 3
District III
Few districts bring back a résumé like District III’s top returner. Robert Morris enters 2026 fresh off a District Championship and a World Series runner-up finish in 2025, giving the Colonials a target on their backs from day one. Meanwhile, former juggernaut Kent State — winners in 2024 and 2023 — has moved up to Division II, ushering in a new era for the district.
Over in the East, York College has made a smooth transition after arriving from District II, opening conference play at 1–0 as they begin carving out a place in their new surroundings.
The West has continued to run through Robert Morris, who jumped to a 4–0 fall start behind a roster returning 16 players from last season’s breakthrough campaign. A 6–2 fall record paired with leadership from Caden Smith, Nathaniel Schmid, Joey Asvestas, and Joey Skehan has the Colonials again looking like a postseason fixture.
With proven contenders, rising programs, and new faces in the mix, District III is shaping up to be a heavyweight battle heading into the spring.
Be sure to check all the District III Team Previews to see how everyone’s looking heading into the Spring 2026 season!
The 2026 Rawlings Division III Preseason Rankings will be released this Thursday!
DIVISION III TEAM PREVIEWS | DAY 2 OF 3
District II
Turnover has defined District II over the past few seasons, and 2026 is no exception. Craven CC (2025) and George Mason (2024) both moved up to Division II, while York College’s 2023 title run now feels distant with the Spartans competing in District III. The reshuffling has created plenty of opportunity for a new power to emerge.
That intrigue only grows with the arrival of Catholic, Hampden–Sydney, Mary Washington, College of Charleston, and East Tennessee State, all capable of reshaping the competitive balance in their first year inside the district.
Early results in the Central have belonged to VCU, who sprinted to a 4–0 fall record behind a highlight-reel performance from Ben Ward, who hit for the cycle in conference action.
In the North, newcomer Catholic (3–1) grabbed attention immediately by sweeping Dickinson and rival Georgetown while engineering several late-inning comeback wins. With Gavin Feliciani, Trey Murnane, and Luke Archival setting the tone, the Cardinals enter the spring looking to establish themselves quickly.
The South will not begin conference play until the spring, leaving that side of the district wide open heading into the 2026 season.
Be sure to check all the District II Team Previews to see how everyone’s looking heading into the Spring 2026 season!
The 2026 Rawlings Division III Preseason Rankings will be released this Thursday!
DIVISION III TEAM PREVIEWS | DAY 1 OF 3
District I
With three straight seasons producing different champions, District I enters 2026 in a familiar place — searching for the next program to step into the spotlight. Dickinson (2025), Saginaw Valley State (2024), and Rhode Island (2023) have all departed for new districts or divisions, creating another wide-open title chase this spring.
Much of the early buzz has come from the East, where first-year program Sacred Heart exploded onto the scene with a 7–1 fall showing and a spotless 4–0 conference record. Powered by Braden Neal, Aaron Ariza, Francis Fressle, and Justin DiGiovanna, the Pioneers wasted no time proving they belong. Hofstra (2–0) remains in close pursuit and could quickly tighten the race.
In the West, Rowan made an early statement of its own, opening conference play at 2–0 and positioning itself firmly among the district’s top contenders heading into the spring slate.
With fresh faces at the top and tight early standings, District I is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in Division III this season.
Be sure to check all the District I Team Previews to see how everyone’s looking heading into the Spring 2026 season!
The 2026 Rawlings Division III Preseason Rankings will be released this Thursday!
TOP TEN RECAP:
The Craven CC Panthers completed their Cinderella run through the DIII Playoffs by winning the World Series in convincing fashion and securing all five first-place votes in the final poll! The Panthers, led by head coach Jimmy Griffiths and freshman standout Rusty Haswell, came out of the loser’s bracket and defeated #2 Robert Morris twice on championship Sunday by scores of 19-0 and 9-6 to leave no doubt on who the best team in Division III was this season.
Robert Morris, UW – Stevens Point, and Dickinson round out the Top 4 after each of their postseason runs were put to a stop by the Panthers in Butler this past weekend.
Check out the final Rawlings Top Ten of the 2025 season HERE!
Thank you all for following the NCBA DIII this season!
The four-seed Craven CC Panthers completed their Cinderella run, winning the NCBA DIII World Series with a 9-6 win over #2 Robert Morris! John Freeman gave the Panthers a lead they never relinquished with a 3 RBI triple in the bottom of the first and freshman Rusty Haswell slammed the door in relief. The right-hander went 5.2 innings, striking out 8 while only giving up one run on one hit to secure the national championship for Craven!
FINAL BRACKET: HERE
FINAL WORLD SERIES STATS AND RESULTS: HERE
The #4 Craven bats stayed hot and pounded Robert Morris pitching to win 19-0 and force a Game 7 at the NCBA DIII World Series. Left fielder T.J. Jones led the offensive onslaught going 4-for-5 with a double, triple, and 5 RBIs. Damon McAnallen threw a gem on the mound, going 6 innings, allowing no runs, and striking out 6.
The winner-take-all Game 7 rematch will begin at 12:35 PM.
UPDATED BRACKET: HERE
WORLD SERIES STATS: HERE