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Preseason No. 1 Maryland misses NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament for first time since 2002
TL;DR
Preseason No. 1 Maryland has missed the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament for the first time since 2002 after finishing the regular season with a 7-6 record and losing in the Big Ten Tournament.
Key points
- Maryland finished the season with a 7-6 record
- The team lost in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament
- This is the first time Maryland missed the tournament since 2002
- The NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament features 18 teams
- 10 teams qualify as conference tournament champions
Maryland TerrapinsNCAA Men's Lacrosse TournamentBig Ten
With the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament bracket only consisting of 18 teams — 10 of which go to conference tournament champions — the opportunities for teams on the bubble are scarce.
Maryland found that out the hard way following the fully revealed bracket for the 2026 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament.
The Terrapins were left out of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament on Sunday by the NCAA Tournament selection committee after going 7-6 in the regular season and losing in their second round of the Big Ten Tournament to Penn State.
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament bracket: Highlights from Selection Sunday show
The omission of the Terrapins is a significant one in men's lacrosse, as they are one of the sport's true powerhouses: Maryland has been in every NCAA tournament since 2003, and has made it to Memorial Day weekend to compete for the national championship in three of the last four seasons.
But that isn't the only notable reason of the Terrapins being left out. John Tillman's squad was the No. 1-ranked team in the Inside Lacrosse, USILA Coaches and preseason polls.
Q&A
Why did Maryland miss the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament in 2026?
Maryland missed the tournament due to a 7-6 regular season record and a second-round loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.
When was the last time Maryland did not qualify for the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament?
Maryland last missed the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament in 2002.
How many teams qualify for the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament?
The NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament bracket consists of 18 teams, with 10 spots reserved for conference tournament champions.