How are automatic bids determined for the NCAA hockey tournament?

Automatic bids are awarded to the teams currently leading their respective conferences in points, regardless of their national rankings.

Which teams are in contention for the CCHA automatic bid?

Augustana leads the CCHA in points, but Michigan Tech and St. Thomas are close contenders, with Minnesota State and Bowling Green also in the mix.

How do team tier movements affect NCAA hockey bracketology?

Shifts in team tiers, such as Denver moving down and Boston College moving up, can influence potential matchups and overall bracket seeding.

Home / Sports / NCAA Hockey Tournament Preview: Automatic Bids & At-Large Races

NCAA Hockey Tournament Preview: Automatic Bids & At-Large Races

23 Feb

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Summary

Automatic bids are assigned to conference leaders, not national rankings.
Augustana leads the CCHA, but Michigan Tech and St. Thomas are close.
Denver and Boston College shifted tiers, impacting potential matchups.

NCAA Hockey Tournament Preview: Automatic Bids & At-Large Races

As the college hockey season progresses, the landscape for the NCAA Tournament is becoming clearer. Automatic bids are being awarded to teams leading their respective conferences in points, a process that prioritizes in-conference performance over national rankings. For example, Michigan secures the Big Ten automatic bid as the current leader, even if Michigan State holds the top national spot.

The CCHA race remains tight, with Augustana leading in points but closely followed by Michigan Tech and St. Thomas. These teams, along with Minnesota State and Bowling Green, are vying for a single potential conference spot in the tournament, with their National Collegiate Percentage (NPI) Index scores being a critical factor for at-large consideration.