By: A.J. Vazquez, Strategic Communications & Marketing Intern
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The past week was filled with action-packed events, from the Cross Country South Central Regional to the Men’s and Women’s Soccer Tournaments, while winter sports are just getting underway. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference continues to display its all-around excellence across all sports.
This week 33 RMAC teams were ranked in their respective sports’ national rankings.
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country each feature seven nationally ranked teams, while Women’s Soccer and Football have three apiece. Volleyball, Men’s Soccer, and Men’s Basketball have two ranked teams, and Women’s Basketball has one.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) had seven RMAC Men’s Cross Country Teams nationally ranked in their national poll. RMAC Cross Country teams continue to dominate the national rankings, once again leading all Division II conferences with the most teams ranked.
No. 2 Adams State University and No. 3 Colorado School of Mines are the highest ranked RMAC teams. No. 6 Western Colorado University and No. 8 Colorado Christian University round out the top ten. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs improved a spot to No.15, while Metropolitan State University Denver entered the rankings this week ranked No. 24, and Fort Lewis College is No. 30.
Adams State, Colorado School of Mines, Western Colorado, Colorado Christian, and UCCS have earned bids to compete at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country National Championship on November 22, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The final poll from United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) before the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship featured seven RMAC teams. Four out of the top five teams in the nation are from the RMAC.
Adams State (No.2), Colorado School of Mines (No.3), UCCS (No. 4), and Western Colorado (No. 5) control the top five heading into the NCAA Division II National Championship. Colorado State University Pueblo is No. 17, Colorado Mesa University is No. 20, and Fort Lewis is No. 22 to round out the rankings.
Adams State, UCCS, Colorado School of Mines, CSU Pueblo, Fort Lewis, Western Colorado, and Colorado Mesa have earned spots to compete at the 2025 NCAA Division II National Championship on November 22, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
MEN’S SOCCER
Three Men’s Soccer teams were mentioned this week in United Soccer Coaches’ tenth poll of the season. Two teams were ranked and one received votes. The RMAC Men’s Soccer tournament continues this weekend after two tightly contested semifinal matches. The championship game will be played at UCCS, with the Mountain Lions and the Roadrunners of MSU Denver facing off for the RMAC title.
UCCS was ranked No. 19, MSU Denver was No. 22, and CSU Pueblo received votes in the poll.
| Men’s Soccer Tournament Schedule |
| Quarterfinals | Sunday, Nov. 9 | Campus Sites of Highest Seeds |
| Match 1: #4 Westminster def. #5 CSU Pueblo, 1-0 (OT) |
| Match 2: #3 Regis def. #6 Colorado Mesa, 3-1 |
| Semifinals | Wednesday, Nov. 12 | Campus Sites of Highest Seeds |
| Match 3: #1 UCCS def. #4 Westminster, 2-1 |
| Match 4: #2 MSU Denver def. #3 Regis, 1-0 |
| Championship | Saturday Nov. 15 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 1:00 p.m. (MT) |
| Match 5: #2 MSU Denver at #1 UCCS |
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Four Women’s Soccer teams were featured in this week’s edition of United Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 poll. Three teams were ranked and one received votes. The semifinal matches of the 2025 RMAC Women’s Soccer Tournament were intense battles, highlighted by Colorado School of Mines advancing on penalty kicks. This Saturday, Colorado Mesa and Colorado School of Mines will battle for the RMAC Championship title.
Colorado School of Mines is ranked No. 7, while UCCS is No. 14. The host of the 2025 RMAC Women’s Soccer Tournament, Colorado Mesa, is ranked No. 22, and Fort Lewis received votes in the poll.
| Women’s Soccer Tournament Schedule |
| First Round | Friday, Nov. 7 | Alamosa, Colorado |
| Match 1: #7 Adams State def. #8 CSU Pueblo, 2-0 |
| Quarterfinals | Sunday, Nov. 9 | Campus Sites of Highest Seeds |
| Match 2: #4 Fort Lewis def. #5 Regis, 2-0 |
| Match 3: #2 Colorado School of Mines def. #7 Adams State, 4-1 |
| Match 4: #3 UCCS def. #6 Westminster, 2-1 |
| Semifinals | Wednesday, Nov. 12 | Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Match 5: #1 Colorado Mesa def. #4 Fort Lewis, 1-0 |
| Match 6: #2 Colorado School of Mines adv. #3 UCCS, 1-1 / 5-4 PKs |
| Championship | Saturday, Nov. 15 | Grand Junction, Colorado | 5:00 p.m. (MT) |
| Match 7: #1 Colorado Mesa vs. #2 Colorado School of Mines |
FOOTBALL
After an exciting weekend of RMAC football, three teams were featured in this week’s national rankings from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D2Football.com. CSU Pueblo and Chadron State are the remaining teams undefeated in league play.
Chadron State appeared in the AFCA national coaches’ poll for the first time since 2013, coming in at No. 22. Joining them are CSU Pueblo at No. 5 and Western Colorado at No. 22. In the D2Football.com Top 25, CSU Pueblo is No. 7, Chadron State is No. 19, and Western Colorado is No. 22.
CSU Pueblo and Chadron State will clash this Saturday at the ThunderBowl to determine the RMAC’s undisputed champion. Meanwhile, Western Colorado hosts Colorado Mesa to close out the regular season.
VOLLEYBALL
Two teams were featured in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFLEX national coaches' poll. The RMAC Volleyball Championship is November 18-22, with the highest seeds hosting the first round of matches. UCCS and MSU Denver have both clinched berths to the RMAC Championship, with multiple teams in contention for the remaining slots.
MSU Denver will play its remaining regular season games as the No. 10 team in the country. UCCS received votes in the poll.
MSU Denver hosts Adams State on Friday, while UCCS hosts New Mexico Highlands University. On Saturday, MSU Denver faces New Mexico Highlands, while UCCS hosts Adams State.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The preseason coaches’ poll from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) featured two RMAC Men’s Basketball teams ranked and one receiving votes. With the regular-season getting underway this week, this weekend features the first full slate of regular-season games.
Colorado School of Mines is No. 10, Black Hills State University is No. 17, and Colorado Mesa received votes in the poll.
This weekend, Colorado Mesa travels to Dallas Baptist University for a 4:00 p.m. tipoff on Friday, while Colorado School of Mines faces Lubbock Christian at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, Colorado Mesa hosts St. Edward’s University at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday features Black Hills State at Sul Ross State at 11:00 a.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
In the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll, one team was ranked, and two received votes in the poll. The regular season officially kicks off this week, featuring the first full weekend of action.
Colorado Mesa will enter the 2025-26 season ranked No. 21. Adams State and UCCS received votes in the poll.
This weekend, UCCS hosts the University of Texas Tyler on Friday at noon, Colorado Mesa plays at West Texas A&M University at 1:00 p.m. and Adams State tips off with Angelo State University at 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, Adams State hosts Eastern New Mexico University at 5:00 p.m. while UCCS hosts Texas Woman’s University at 6:00 p.m. Sunday features Colorado Mesa facing the University of Texas Permian Basin at 11:00 a.m.
MEN’S SWIM AND DIVE
Two RMAC Men’s Swim & Dive teams were ranked in the second coaches poll published by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA). The 2025-26 RMAC Swim & Dive Championship, hosted by Colorado Mesa, takes place February 10-14, 2026.
Colorado Mesa was ranked No. 6, Simon Fraser was No. 22, and Oklahoma Christian received votes in the poll.
WOMEN’S SWIM AND DIVE
In the second Women’s Swim & Dive coaches’ poll from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association, four squads were featured representing the RMAC. The 2025-26 RMAC Swim & Dive Championship takes place February 10-14, 2026, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Colorado Mesa was No. 5, Simon Fraser was No. 17, Colorado School of Mines was No. 18, Oklahoma Christian was No. 25.
About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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