Pity the conference reps, who may find themselves going deep into tiebreaker rules to determine seeding and who’s in and out of conference tournaments this year.
Perhaps they’ll understand a bit what it feels like to rank teams in 2024. Yet, teams can make gains — and perhaps spare conference reps the same game of Tetris we play with rankings — by taking care of business.
Many of this weekend’s games are of the conference variety, and many include renewed rivalries between perennial favorites. All times Eastern.
TV LISTINGS | USA LACROSSE TOP 20
No. 20 Ohio State (7-4) at Cincinnati (9-4) – Friday 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
It’s Rock ‘N Roll Day at Nippert Stadium in Cincy — but it was OSU that rocked the rankings when it nipped Penn State 9-8 last week.
No. 20 Duke (8-5) at No. 1 Notre Dame (10-2) – Saturday 1 p.m. (ACCNX)
Notre Dame will honor its super senior class that includes Jackie Wolak, Kasey Choma and Madison Ahern — all three of whom are more concerned with No. 1 at the end of the season.
No. 7 Michigan (12-1) at Penn State (7-5) – Saturday 1 p.m. (BTN+)
Both teams are 2-1 in a loaded Big Ten — this early-April game could have serious implications in a few weeks.
Dartmouth (6-4) at Brown (8-3) – Saturday 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
A pair of prospective Ancient Eight party-crashers lock horns.
No. 2 Northwestern (10-2) at No. 6 Maryland (10-2) – Saturday 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Old rivals collide in what will likely determine the top seed in the conference tournament (but who really knows this year).
Temple (8-3) at No. 11 James Madison (9-3) – Saturday 12 p.m. (ESPN+)
Temple challenged the Dukes – who rebounded from an uncharacteristic eight-goal loss to Hopkins with a win over Richmond on Wednesday — in a 10-8 loss last season.
No. 9 Johns Hopkins (9-3) at Rutgers (6-6) – Saturday 5 p.m. (BTN+)
Hopkins beat Ohio State by 10 and James Madison by eight — what’s in store at Rutgers?
Clemson (9-4) at No. 4 Boston College (11-2) – Sunday 12 p.m. (ACCNX)
The Eagles handed Yale its first loss of the season on Wednesday behind a masterful seven-point performance from Rachel Clark.
No. 5 Penn (8-2) at No. 15 Yale (8-1) – Sunday 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
The top teams and defenses in the Ivies must rebound from midweek losses in what could be a preview of the conference title game.
