GRR on X  GRR on Facebook GRR in Instagram GRR Vimeo Library GRR on YouTube RuggaMatrix America Podcasts Support GRR on Patreon

Rankings, Conferences, Playoffs at Stake in College Weekend

irish rugby tours

Rankings, Conferences, Playoffs at Stake in College Weekend

Navy has a big game this weekend. David Hughes photo.

While much of the college landscape is thinking about 7s, at the highest level 15s is still the order of the day.

It's Kind of a Big Deal

Cal at Navy is previewed here. Navy has been holding into the #1 ranking but this game has the potential to topple them. In context, Central Washington already has beaten Army, and it could be, if Cal beats Navy, that Cal could be #1 ... but it could also be Central Washington.

California Conference

Saint Mary's is the top team in the conference and should still be in that position after this weekends game at UCSC. Not that Santa Cruz can't play, but the Gaels are certainly favored. UCSB is at Cal Poly and this is a potential banana skin for a Cal Poly team that is looking for a playoff place.

Cal Poly Eyes Bigger Things

Cal Poly leads the conference right now but Saint Mary's has a couple of extra games to play and has already beaten the Mustangs. Cal Poly can clinch 2nd this week, however. And don't overlook Santa Clara, which can secure third with a win this weekend and a UCSC loss.

California DIA W L T PF PA PD BT BL Pts
Cal Poly 5 1 0 330 145 185 5 0 25
Saint Mary's 4 0 0 246 52 194 4 0 20
Santa Clara 3 2 0 176 181 -5 4 0 16
UC Davis 2 4 0 116 178 -62 3 1 12
UCSB 1 3 1 118 128 -10 2 2 10
UC Santa Cruz 2 2 0 68 149 -81 1 0 9
CSULB 1 3 0 88 158 -70 2 0 6
San Diego State 0 3 1 47 198 -151 1 0 3

Mid-South

A big game looms March 18 with Life at Lindenwood. Before that game, Life has to handle Arkansas State. Lindenwood's 36-10 win over Davenport last week has the Lions atop the conference. But The Mid-South is still way up in the air and if Life wins this week, they can put themselves in position to wrest the conference from Lindenwood a week later. Whichever of those two gets its second loss can then look over their shoulder at Davenport, which plays Arkansas State next week. Potentially the March 25 game Davenport at Life could be the conference decider.

Mid-South 2022-23 W L T PF PA PD BT BL Pts
Lindenwood 3 1 0 112 58 54 2 0 14
Life 2 1 0 95 45 50 2 0 10
Davenport 2 2 0 50 85 -35 0 0 8
Arkansas State 0 3 0 21 90 -69 0 0 0

DIAA

Western Washington is on a roll now and should be the top team out of the Northwest. They could be poised to clash with (likely) University of San Diego and the top teams from the California DIAA to decide the spring ACR/CRAA DIAA finalist. We already know Sam Houston is in the Eastern semifinal, and the Heart of American decides its champion in two weeks with Iowa State vs Minnesota. 

Leading the way in the California are Fresno State and Sacramento State. Both are unbeaten, although we caution you that there is plenty of rugby to be played in this conference. This week Sac State hosts Chico State in a big one. Fresno State hosts San Jose State. Wins for the home teams and they can serious plan for a playoff surge.

California DIAA W L T PF PA PD BT BL Pts
Sacramento State 3 0 0 146 60 86 3 0 15
Fresno State 2 0 0 116 27 89 2 0 10
Chico State 1 1 0 51 54 -3 2 0 6
San Jose State 1 1 0 59 50 9 1 0 5
Nevada-Reno 0 1 0 17 51 -34 0 0 0
Stanford 0 3 0 45 160 -115 0 0 0

Check back for scores:

          Referee Video
3/8 Army 14-36 Central Washington D1A Non-Conference Kat Roche Video Link
3/11 San Jose State 28-48 Fresno State California DIAA    
3/11 Chico State 14-29 Sacramento State California DIAA   Video List
3/11 Stanford Fft W-L Nevada-Reno California DIAA    
3/11 Saint Mary's 85-0 UC Santa Cruz D1A California Conf. Andrew Stockton Live List
3/12 UC Santa Barbara 7-66 Cal Poly D1A California Conf. Frank Palumbo Live List
3/11 CSULB at San Diego State D1A California Conf. Kirk Swanner  
3/11 UC Davis 36-42 Santa Clara D1A California Conf. Tim Lew  
3/11 Cal 28-33 Navy D1A Non-Conference Kat Roche Live on TRN
3/11 UCLA 56-19 Utah D1A PAC Kage Green  
3/11 Norco College at Mira Costa College Gold Coast    
3/11 Life 15-3 Arkansas State Mid-South D1A Lex Weiner Live on YouTube
3/11 Oregon State at Washington NCRC    
3/11 Guelph 15-29 Mary Washington Non-Conference    
3/11 Oregon 5-39 Western Washington NCRC   Live on YouTube
3/11 New Mexico Ccld Grand Canyon D1A Non-Conference Frank Palumbo