If recent NCAA men's soccer tournament history has taught us anything, it's that Cinderella will make a run in this year's playoffs — possibly all the way to the title.
Unseeded Vermont achieved that feat in 2024, running a six-game gauntlet from the first round that ended with an overtime victory over No. 13 seed Marshall. Will we get another unexpected final like that in 2025?
One thing is certain: the Catamounts won't sneak up on anyone this year. Ranked No. 2 in the coaches' poll and the RPI entering the NCAA tournament, Vermont is primed for a repeat, but the task can be a bit more difficult when you're the hunted.
Among other contenders, Princeton (No. 1 in RPI) looks to become the first Ivy League school to lift the trophy, while more traditional powers like Maryland and Virginia could have the squads to add another to their collection.
Who will prevail this time? AllSportsPeople has all the details on the 2025 NCAA men's soccer tournament.
How to watch 2025 NCAA men's soccer tournament
The first four rounds of the 2025 NCAA men's soccer tournament will air on ESPN+, which is available via the ESPN app.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
The semifinals and championship are the only games broadcast on traditional TV. ESPNU will handle the coverage for those games.
Fans can also live stream the Men's College Cup semis and final on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
NCAA men's soccer tournament 2025 schedule, scores
First round
Thursday, Nov. 20
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse vs. Hofstra | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Clemson vs. Western Michigan | TBA | ESPN+ |
| UCLA vs. Grand Canyon | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Denver vs. UC Irvine | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Oregon State vs. Washington | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Kansas City vs. Lindenwood | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Cornell vs. Lafayette | TBA | ESPN+ |
| North Carolina vs. North Florida | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Duke vs. Fairleigh Dickinson | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Michigan vs. Notre Dame | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Seton Hall vs. Siena | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Saint Louis vs. Kentucky | TBA | ESPN+ |
| UCF vs. Florida Atlantic | TBA | ESPN+ |
| West Virginia vs. St. John's | TBA | ESPN+ |
| Marshall vs. Cleveland State | TBA | ESPN+ |
| UNC Greensboro vs. Elon | TBA | ESPN+ |
Second round
Sunday, Nov. 23
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Vermont vs. Syracuse/Hofstra | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 16 Furman vs. Clemson/Western Michigan | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 9 San Diego vs. UCLA/Grand Canyon | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 8 Portland vs. Denver/UC Irvine | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 5 SMU vs. Oregon State/Washington | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 12 Stanford vs. Kansas City/Lindenwood | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 13 UConn vs. Cornell/Lafayette | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 4 Maryland vs. North Carolina/North Florida | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 3 Princeton vs. Duke/FDU | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 14 Akron vs. Michigan/Notre Dame | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 11 Bryant vs. Seton Hall/Siena | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 6 Indiana vs. Saint Louis/Kentucky | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 7 Georgetown vs. UCF/Florida Atlantic | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 10 High Point vs. West Virginia/St. John's | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 15 NC State vs. Marshall/Cleveland State | TBA | ESPN+ |
| No. 2 Virginia vs. UNC Greensboro/Elon | TBA | ESPN+ |
NCAA men's soccer tournament bracket 2025
The full bracket for this year's NCAA playoffs is below:
Let's dance 🕺🪩
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 17, 2025
➡️ https://t.co/bTOwa0FI77
🎟️ https://t.co/MfNX49sR2c#NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/YTGkvVvJ99
NCAA men's soccer tournament round-by-round schedule 2025
| Round | Dates |
| First round | Nov. 20 |
| Second round | Nov. 23 |
| Third round | Nov. 29, 30 |
| Quarterfinals | Dec. 5, 6 |
| Semifinals | Dec. 12 |
| Final | Dec. 15 |
2025 NCAA men's soccer tournament automatic bids
Twenty-two schools earned automatic bids to the 2025 tournament by winning their conference title. Here's the full list of automatic qualifiers:
| Conference | Qualifier |
|---|---|
| American | Florida Atlantic |
| America East | Vermont |
| ACC | SMU |
| Atlantic 10 | Saint Louis |
| ASUN | North Florida |
| Big East | Georgetown |
| Big South | High Point |
| Big Ten | UCLA |
| Big West | UC Irvine |
| CAA | Elon |
| Horizon | Cleveland State |
| Ivy League | Princeton |
| MAAC | Siena |
| Missouri Valley | Western Michigan |
| NEC | Fairleigh Dickinson |
| Ohio Valley | Lindenwood |
| Patriot League | Lafayette |
| SoCon | Furman |
| Summit League | Denver |
| Sun Belt | UCF |
| WAC | Grand Canyon |
| WCC | San Diego |
NCAA men's soccer tournament champions list
The last 10 NCAA men's soccer tournament champions are listed below:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Vermont | Marshall |
| 2023 | Clemson | Notre Dame |
| 2022 | Syracuse | Indiana |
| 2021 | Clemson | Washington |
| 2020 | Marshall | Indiana |
| 2019 | Georgetown | Virginia |
| 2018 | Maryland | Akron |
| 2017 | Stanford | Indiana |
| 2016 | Stanford | Wake Forest |
| 2015 | Stanford | Clemson |