College soccer teams are scoring big in 2025! Whether you're an aspiring player considering which school to pursue or an adoring fan on the hunt for the latest stats, read on to discover the best college soccer teams and their rankings. If you're looking to improve your skills quickly, consider hiring a personal soccer trainer near me.
Top Men's Teams
- University of Vermont
- Marshall University
- Ohio State University
- University of Denver
- Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Top Women's Teams
- University of North Carolina
- University of Notre Dame
- Florida State
- Duke University
- University of Southern California
The beautiful game at the Division I college level in the United States offers players the chance to develop their skills, make institutional history, and, for some players, the resources to go pro. For male players, it used to be the primary path to playing professionally, but it is now more of a secondary route as many players sign directly from USL or MLS academies. But, it's still a great option for those who want to develop their skills more and get an education before going professional. For female players, D1 college soccer is still the main pathway for joining the U.S. Women's National Team, NWSL, or an international team. Overall, playing Division I soccer is a great way to kickstart a career in the sport.
Top 5 Men’s College Soccer Teams in 2025
The best men's college soccer teams in 2025 bring a mix of experience, history, and record-breaking fun to the field. Plus, you'll learn more about a team that's making waves in its first year in the ACC. Who will you cheer for in 2025?
University of Vermont
In his 8th season, head coach Rob Dow helped the Vermont Catamounts see their most historic year yet. They earned a 16-2-6 overall record and 6-1-2 in the America East Conference. They took home the tournament title from that conference and the school's first NCAA national championship. In the NCAA Tournament, they toppled teams like Hofstra, Pittsburgh, and Denver. Thanks to a golden goal from Maximilian Kissel, they beat Marshall 2–1 during overtime at the final. Key players this season and in the tournament included Yaniv Bazini (14 goals), Kissel (11 goals, 6 game-winners), and playmaker Sydney Wathuta (14 assists).
Marshall University
The Thundering Herd is led by coach Chris Grassie, who, during the 2024 season, was in his 8th year with the team. Marshall had a knockout year with a 15‑2‑7 overall record (4‑0‑5 in Sun Belt Tournament play). They ended the season as national runners-up. During the NCAA Tournament, they won against Fuman, NC State, and SMU before toppling Ohio State. In the finals, they ultimately lost to Vermont. Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos held the offensive line with 15 goals and 5 assists, while Tarik Pannholzer contributed with multiple goals in the College Cup.
Ohio State University
Brian Maisonneuve’s Buckeyes really showed up in 2024 with what was perhaps the biggest season in program history. They brought home a 16‑2‑4 overall record and grabbed both the Big Ten regular-season title and the Big Ten Tournament championship. In late-season polls, the team ranked first nationally. They advanced to the College Cup semifinals and made their first Final Four appearance since 2007. In the Final Four, they fell to Marshall. Several honors were taken home this year, including by Senior midfielder Michael Adedokun (Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and Hermann Trophy). Additionally, Coach Maisonneuve was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
University of Denver
Coach Jamie Franks led the Denver Pioneers in 2024. They finished with an overall record of 15‑3‑5 and a 7‑1 in conference play. Reaching their second-ever College Cup semifinal, the Pioneers were ultimately eliminated by Vermont during a penalty shootout. Standout stars include offensive Sam Bassett, who is a senior attacking midfielder. He received United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American honors and earned the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Year title.
- 15‑3‑5 overall record
- 7-1 conference record
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Ninth-year head coach Kevin Hudson paved the way for the SMU Mustangs during their first season in the ACC. The Mustangs earned a solid 12‑3‑6 overall record (4‑2‑2 in ACC play). Their first season in the ACC also ended with the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, showing that they are ready to gain national relevance. Defender Cesar Ruvalcaba was a standout player in 2024. He started in all 14 matches, scored 4 goals, and provided 7 assists.
-University of Vermont
-Marshall University
-Ohio State University
-University of Denver
-Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Top 5 Women’s College Soccer Teams in 2025
Women's college soccer teams were all-stars during the last season. These teams scored more than just goals. They also took home a variety of awards, both individual and on the team's behalf. Learn more about the best soccer college teams.
University of North Carolina
North Carolina's Tar Heels are the reigning national champions when it comes to women's college soccer in 2025. Current head coach Damon Nahas has been with the team since 2015, but became interim head coach in 2024. Under his guidance, the team dominated the 2024 season and ultimately won the NCAA Division I National Championship, finishing with a 22–5 overall record (7–3 in ACC play). This was the program’s 23rd title and its first since 2012. Olivia Thomas was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player, and striker Kate Faasse was another national standout. Faasse led with 20 goals, which earned her the Hermann Trophy, TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Year, and the Honda Sports Award.
University of Notre Dame
Kicking off his 7th season, head coach Nate Norman led Notre Dame's Fighting Irish in scoring a solid 14–4–4 (5–1–4 in the ACC). This standout season helped them advance to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, where they ultimately lost to Stanford. Top talent from this well-respected team included freshman Izzy Engle, who was named ACC Freshman of the Year and was a top scorer all season. Teammates Leah Klenke and Annabelle Chukwu also brought home All-ACC honors.
Florida State University
Led by head coach Brian Pensky, the Florida State Seminoles ended the 2024 season with a 15–2–4 record. Plus, during the ACC regular season, they tied for second (7–2–1). The Seminoles defeated North Carolina in the ACC Tournament and brought home their fifth consecutive ACC Tournament title. Their 2024 success was led by senior Taylor Huff, who scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists during the tournament, which earned her tournament MVP honors and First Team All-American status. Their low point this season came with a surprise exit during the second round of the NCAA Tournament, when they lost to Vanderbilt.
Duke University
The Duke Blue Devils had a solid 2024 season with an overall record of 18–3–1. Additionally, they hit a 9–0–1 in their conference season. Retiring head coach Robbie Church helped them secure the ACC regular-season title. The team did well in the NCAA Tournament, too, earning the top overall seed. In the College Cup, they reached the semifinals before losing to North Carolina. But that didn't stop the Blue Devils staff and team from scoring several honors, such as: Church (ACC Coach of the Year), Maggie Graham (Midfielder of the Year), Cameron Roller (Defensive Player of the Year), and Leah Freeman (Goalkeeper of the Year).
- 18-3-1 overall record
- 9-1-1 conference record
University of Southern California
Under the leadership of head coach Jane Alukonis, Big Ten powerhouse USC completed its 2024 season with an impressive 18–1–4 overall record. In conference play, they ended with a 10–0–1 record. This earned them the Big Ten regular-season championship. Upon making it to the NCAA Tournament, the Trojans earned a 4–3 overtime win against Saint Louis. Defender and senior Brooklyn Courtnall took home first-team All-American honors; meanwhile, Alukonis was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
- 18–1–4 overall record
- 10–0–1 conference record
Criteria for Ranking College Soccer Teams
How exactly is success for a college soccer team measured? Three key factors are taken into account when judging a team's ranking. These factors include performance metrics, historical success, and player development.
Performance Metrics
Performance metrics are the first element of ranking a team. The first data point here is how well the team plays each season. To determine this, you'd consider their win-loss record, the number of goals scored compared to the number of goals they concede, and their consistency in performance against their strongest opponents. Teams with strong records in this category are ranked higher.
Historical Success
But it isn't just present-day performance that makes a great team. To get a solid ranking, a team must also have strong past achievements. How many championships has a team won? Have they competed in tournaments? Or, have they consistently made the playoffs? The answers to these questions all point to whether a team has a good track record, both past and present. They also demonstrate a team's stability.
Player Development
The final element to consider when ranking a team is how a program invests in and develops its players. To determine this, you can consider the number of players that get drafted into professional leagues upon graduation. Are there alumni success stories in the pro world that came out of the program? This illustrates a dedication to the success of players on the college field and beyond.
Three key factors are used to rank good college soccer teams, including performance metrics, historical success, and player development.
Learn More About Soccer with Superprof
Now that you know the best of the best when it comes to good college soccer teams and players, you're ready to learn even more. Take your playing skills to the next level by working with a tutor at Superprof. Who knows? With lots of practice and determination, maybe you'll land yourself a spot on a D1 team.
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