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Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse Carry the ACC Into the First Round of the NCAA Field Hockey Championship

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

ACC field hockey action with Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse heading into the NCAA Championship first round

Three ACC teams, three campus sites, one Friday. The conference that has earned an NCAA bid for 32 straight years sends its champion and two national seeds into the first round on November 13, with North Carolina chasing a record 10th national title.

Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse will represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Field Hockey Championship on Friday, November 13, at campus sites across the country. Syracuse, which won the 2026 ACC Field Hockey Championship as the No. 4 seed, travels to Storrs, Connecticut, to face No. 5 national seed Princeton. The Orange and Tigers will meet at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Syracuse will make its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance as a member of the ACC and its fifth in the past six seasons. The Orange are 9-7 in NCAA Tournament play since joining the ACC, highlighted by their 2015 national championship.

Duke continues its pursuit of the first national championship in program history when it travels to College Park, Maryland, to face No. 7 national seed Iowa. The Blue Devils and Hawkeyes will get underway Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET. on ESPN+. Led by ACC Coach of the Year Pam Bustin, the Blue Devils enter the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season after earning a share of the ACC regular-season championship.

North Carolina, the No. 8 national seed, makes its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and travels to Evanston, Illinois. The Tar Heels will face Miami (Ohio) on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in the tournament opener for both teams. North Carolina is making its NCAA-record 43rd postseason appearance and pursuing a record 10th national championship.

The ACC earned multiple bids to the NCAA field for the 32nd consecutive year. The conference’s three selections are tied for the most of any league this season.

Opening round matches were played Wednesday, November 11, at two of the first- and second-round sites. First-round matches will be played Friday, November 13, followed by the quarterfinals Sunday, November 15, at four campus sites. Louisville will host the national semifinals Friday, November 20, and the championship game Sunday, November 22, at Trager Stadium. All first-round, second-round and quarterfinal matches will be available on ESPN+, while the semifinals and championship game will be broadcast on ESPNU. For ticket information, visit NCAA.com/tickets.

Benedict Rallies From 24 Points Down to Beat Kentucky State 52-45 in Overtime and Win the SIAC Championship

Published

41 minutes ago

November 15, 2026

KJ Butler

A Benedict receiver in a purple jersey leaps high above a Kentucky State defender to catch the football during the SIAC Championship game.

A Benedict receiver climbs above a Kentucky State defender to pull down a catch during the Tigers' 52-45 overtime win over Kentucky State in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.

Benedict College is a champion again. The Tigers came back from 24 points down on Saturday in Columbia, beating Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime to win the SIAC Championship, the third conference title in program history, and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs came with it.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — November 14, 2026

What started as a competitive conference championship matchup turned into an unforgettable day at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, as Benedict College delivered a remarkable comeback to defeat Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime, capturing its third conference football championship in program history.

With the SIAC Championship on the line, both teams came out ready to compete. The opening quarter featured an evenly matched battle, with both offenses finding opportunities while the defenses worked to establish control. Benedict struck first, taking a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Kentucky State Takes Over

However, the momentum quickly shifted in favor of Kentucky State.

The Thorobreds delivered a dominant second quarter, outscoring Benedict 17-0 before continuing their offensive surge in the third. Kentucky State eventually built a 24-point lead after putting together 31 unanswered points, leaving the Tigers with a mountain to climb.

The Comeback

But Benedict wasn’t ready to surrender its championship hopes.

Benedict's quarterback in a purple No. 3 jersey leaps over a diving Kentucky State defender while carrying the football. — *Benedict’s quarterback hurdles a diving Kentucky State tackler as the Tigers rally in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Tigers found another gear in the fourth quarter, putting together a furious comeback and scoring 24 points in the final period to pull even at 45-45. After trailing by as many as 24 points, Benedict had turned what appeared to be a comfortable Kentucky State victory into a championship thriller.

A Wild Final Minute

The final minute of regulation brought even more drama.

With approximately one minute remaining, Kentucky State punted the ball to Benedict, but the Tigers muffed the return, giving the Thorobreds another opportunity to steal the game. Kentucky State moved into position to score, but Benedict’s defense came up with a crucial stop, keeping the Thorobreds out of the end zone.

Benedict's No. 13 in a purple jersey leaps to catch the football with two Kentucky State defenders closing in and fans behind the sideline wall. — *Benedict’s No. 13 pulls down a catch between two Kentucky State defenders during the championship game. Photo by KJ Butler.*

With Kentucky State out of timeouts, clock management became critical. A delay-of-game penalty with nine seconds remaining resulted in a 10-second runoff, sending the game into overtime. The sequence proved costly for the Thorobreds, as a late-game miscommunication and clock-management mishap ended their opportunity to attempt a field goal before regulation expired.

Overtime Decides It

One more possession would determine the championship.

In overtime, Benedict wasted little time making its opportunity count. Quarterback Glenn Foreman connected with Demetris McKelvey on a touchdown pass, giving the Tigers the advantage and putting the pressure squarely on Kentucky State.

Two Benedict defenders collide with a Kentucky State ball carrier in the end zone, knocking the carrier's helmet into the air, with the Benedict band in the background. — *Benedict’s defense delivers a hit that knocks a Kentucky State helmet loose in the end zone during the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Thorobreds were unable to match the score, and Benedict’s sideline erupted in celebration.

After overcoming a 24-point deficit, surviving a dramatic final minute, and finishing the job in overtime, the Tigers walked away with a 52-45 victory and their third conference football championship in program history.

At Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, fans witnessed a comeback that will forever be remembered.

What Is Next

Benedict’s season rolls on into the NCAA Division II playoffs. The SIAC championship carries the conference’s automatic bid, and the Tigers entered the weekend as the No. 1 team in Super Region Two. Benedict learns its first-round opponent at the NCAA Division II selection show on Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m. ET, with first-round games set for Saturday, November 21.

Kentucky State’s season is not finished either. The Thorobreds close at 8-3 after their first SIAC title game appearance since 2016, and they are expected to land an at-large playoff berth when the bracket is revealed on Sunday night. If their name is called, their first-round game is also Saturday, November 21.