Ohio State Men's Rugby has announced that it will leave the Big Ten Rugby Conference and join the Midwest D1A Conference beginning in Fall 2026.
The move aligns the program fully with the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA), providing a clearer and more direct path to the national championship. In the Midwest D1A, Ohio State will face established powers including Lindenwood, Arkansas State, Davenport, and McKendree.
Why the Move?
The Big Ten Rugby Conference has been complicated by the split between CRAA and NCR (National Collegiate Rugby), with member schools aligned to different governing bodies. This created scheduling and postseason complications that limited Ohio State's ability to compete for national titles through a unified pathway.
Coach Peter Malcolm cited the higher level of competition and the CRAA alignment as key factors: "We want to compete against the best, and the Midwest D1A gives us that opportunity every week. More importantly, it gives our players a clear path to the CRAA championship."
What It Means
- Tougher week-to-week competition against nationally ranked programs
- Direct qualification pathway to CRAA national championship
- New rivalries with Midwest D1A opponents
- Big Ten rivalries (Michigan, Michigan State) may continue as non-conference matches
New Conference Opponents
| School | Location |
|---|---|
| Lindenwood | St. Charles, MO |
| Arkansas State | Jonesboro, AR |
| Davenport | Grand Rapids, MI |
| McKendree | Lebanon, IL |
The Fall 2026 schedule will be announced later this year. Ohio State will complete its Big Ten obligations through Spring 2026.