2026 DI – The 2026 NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse championship continues with the final two quarterfinal matchups on Sunday, May 17, followed by semifinals at Scott Stadium on Saturday, May 23 and the championship game on Monday, May 25.
The 2026 DI men’s lacrosse championship is heading toward its biggest weekend. with the final two quarterfinal matchups set for Sunday. May 17.. After those games are settled. the semifinals move to Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. VA on Saturday. May 23. before the title game on Monday. May 25 at the same venue.
This tournament is built as an 18-team, single elimination bracket. Ten teams earn automatic qualifications, while eight enter as at-large selections. The four lowest-ranked AQ teams are put into an opening round to determine the final two spots in the first round.
The championship schedule also includes a selection show on Sunday, May 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. From there, the tournament opens with an opening round made up of:
First round: Saturday, May 9; Sunday, May 10
Quarterfinals: (with the final two quarterfinal matchups set for Sunday, May 17)
Semifinals: Saturday, May 23 | Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA
Championship: Monday, May 25 | Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA
The stakes are easy to see in the recent history. Cornell Big Red won the 2025 national championship with a 13-10 victory over the Maryland Terrapins, capturing the school’s first title in nearly 50 years since 1977.
That 2025 result sits among a long list of champions dating back to 1971, including multiple repeats and different hosts or sites across the decades. The 2020 championship was canceled due to COVID-19.
🏆 HOW IT HAPPENED: Rewatch the Big Red win it all, from the bleachers
Every DI men’s lacrosse national champion listed in the record includes the year. champion. coach. score. runner-up. and host or site.. The table shows, for example, Notre Dame’s titles in 2024 (15-5 vs.. Maryland) and 2023 (13-9 vs.. Duke), Maryland’s wins in 2022 (9-7 vs.. Cornell) and 2017 (9-6 vs.. Ohio State), and Virginia’s championships in 2021 (17-16 vs.. Maryland) and 2019 (13-9 vs.. Yale).
Over time, the listed results also document a rare after-the-fact correction to the official record.. After the 1990 championship, the NCAA Committee on Infractions determined that Paul Gait had played in the 1990 championship while ineligible.. Under NCAA rules. Syracuse and coach Roy Simmons Jr.’s 3-0 record. and Paul Gait’s 7 goals. 7 assists and his participation in that championship were vacated.. The NCAA does not recognize Syracuse and coach Roy Simmons Jr.’s 3-0 record. and Paul Gait’s 7 goals. 7 assists and his participation in that championship.
The timing of this year’s bracket lines up in a clear sequence: Sunday. May 3 sets the field. the tournament begins on Saturday. May 9 and Sunday. May 10. quarterfinals continue with the final two matchups on Sunday. May 17. and the schedule then narrows to Scott Stadium for semifinals on Saturday. May 23 and the championship on Monday. May 25.
With the tournament structured to whittle an 18-team field down through single-elimination and then concentrate the final games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. the road to the 2026 title is already set—selection night comes first. then opening-round matchups. quarterfinals. and finally the last two steps toward the national championship game.
2026 DI men's lacrosse championship bracket schedule Scott Stadium Charlottesville quarterfinals May 17 semifinals May 23 championship May 25