Michigan State’s women’s soccer team has surged to the top of the latest NCAA rankings, marking a significant milestone in their 2026 season. The Spartans leapt from fifth to first place in the September 15th IWSOC Poll, securing five first-place votes and accumulating 197 points overall.
Ranking Changes Highlight Michigan State’s Rise and Stanford’s Fall
Michigan State’s impressive 6-0-2 record over the first five weeks propelled them ahead of the previous No. 1 team, Stanford, which slipped to sixth after suffering its first defeat of the season. Meanwhile, Duke maintained its second-place standing with a 6-0-1 record, and Wake Forest held steady at No. 3, boasting an undefeated 8-0-0 mark.
The remainder of the Top 5 includes Vanderbilt at fourth and Ohio State at fifth, both teams entering the week without any losses. Further down the rankings, four teams made their debut in the Top 25: Notre Dame at 17th, Utah State at 18th, followed by Oklahoma at 24th and Central Florida at 25th.
This new No. 1 ranking reflects the continued ascent of Michigan State’s program under the guidance of head coach Jeff Hosler. As conference play approaches, the Spartans aim to maintain their dominant position in women’s college soccer.