The Heart of America (HOA) is a Division I-AA men's college rugby conference that expanded to 12 teams for the 2025-2026 season. It operates under the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) and is made up of schools from the middle part of the USA—Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.
The conference plays its 15s season in the fall but enters its champion in the CRAA D1AA postseason in the spring.
Kansas State's shutout win over Arkansas put many in the Heart of America on notice but a week late KSU got a notice of their own after Kansas beat them 34-12.
For the Jayhawks, this was a fairly important showing because KSU had already shown themselves to be a force to be reckoned with.
The Heart of America Conference title game between Iowa State (7-0) and Minnesota (5-2) produced a tight and dramatic finale.
Forty-six players have been named to the Heart of America All-Conference selections.
With the conference having expended, it was decided to make selections based on the two divisions, North and South. Each division had 23 players selected based on position. The entire Heart of America Conference has over 325 registered players competing.
Minnesota and Kansas play for the Heart of America championship Sunday in Lawrence, Kans., with the Kansas game carrying with it more than its share of drama.
The Golden Gophers of Minnesota defeated Arkansas 37-19, putting together perhaps their best performance of the season.
Minnesota is atop the Heart of American North after beating Iowa 41-7.
The Gophers ave not lost and are in a good position to make something happen in the playoffs.
"Iowa was a tough and physical team," said Golden Gophers Head Coach Sean Lindersmith. "Our team was challenged the entire way.
"We started executing well after making some adjustments."
