In a dramatic shift in the 2026 NCAA women’s soccer rankings released on September 22nd, North Carolina surged from seventh place to claim the coveted No. 1 position. The Tar Heels’ impressive performance, highlighted by two significant victories, earned them four first-place votes—more than any other team this week—and lifted their season record to an outstanding 9-1-0.
UNC Thrills Against Duke to Claim Top Rankings Spot
The defining moment for North Carolina came in an electrifying comeback against the former No. 2 ranked Duke. Trailing 2-1 at halftime, the Tar Heels mounted a powerful rally in the second half, netting three consecutive goals. Forward Lilliah Blum was instrumental in the turnaround, contributing two goals and an assist, which earned her the ACC Offensive Player of the Week honor. This defeat saw Duke drop to fourth place in the rankings.
Continuing their dominant streak, North Carolina wrapped up their non-conference schedule with a convincing 5-0 victory over Alcorn State. Forward Bella Devey scored twice in the match, extending her team-leading tally to 10 goals this season.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Michigan State fell from the top spot to No. 2, holding a 6-1-2 record. Vanderbilt climbed to No. 3 with an 8-0-1 record and secured two first-place votes, signaling their rising prominence. Wake Forest maintained its position at No. 5, while UCLA made the most significant leap, vaulting nine places to No. 12.
The latest rankings underscore the Atlantic Coast Conference’s dominance in women’s collegiate soccer, with three of the top five teams representing the ACC, highlighting the conference as the one to watch this season.