Big Ten Conference Announces Preseason Men’s Lacrosse Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. –  The Maryland Terrapins have been named as the favorite to win the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse regular season title, according to the preseason coaches' poll released on Thursday. 

Ranked first overall in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 , the Terrapins received four first place votes to take the top Conference spot. Last season, Maryland finished as NCAA runners up, marking the second year in a row it has done so.  

Penn State was picked second ahead of the defending Big Ten tournament and regular season champions Ohio State, followed by Johns Hopkins, Michigan and Rutgers to round out the poll. 

The Big Ten also released a Players to Watch List, comprised of three players from each of its six programs, and ten players on the list earned 2025 post-season honors, including last years’ Defensive Player of the Year Will Schaller and Specialist of the Year Caleb Fyock. Hunter Aquino also earned Freshman of the Year honors for Penn State. 

The NCAA lacrosse season begins on Saturday, Jan. 31 with Big Ten play commencing March 21. The Big Ten Tournament opens with quarterfinal matches on Saturday, April 25 on campus before the remaining schools travel to Piscataway, N.J. for the semifinals on April 30 and the championship on May 2.  

Each of the five other Big Ten teams are also ranked in the USA Lacrosse preseason poll: Penn State (No. 9), Ohio State (No. 11), Rutgers (No. 15), Johns Hopkins (No. 17), and Michigan (No. 20).  

Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll 

1. Maryland 
2. Penn State 
3. Ohio State 
4. Johns Hopkins  
5. Michigan 
6. Rutgers 

Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse Players to Watch List 

Quintan Kilrain, Jr., Defense, Johns Hopkins 
Matt Collison, Sr., Midfield, Johns Hopkins ^ 
Charlie Iler, Jr., Attack, Johns Hopkins 
Braden Erksa, Sr., Attack, Maryland 
Will Schaller, Sr., Defense, Maryland + 
Brian Ruppel, Sr., Goalie, Maryland 
Hunter Taylor, Sr., Goalie Michigan 
CJ Reilly, Jr., Midfield, Michigan 
Nick Roode, Jr., Attack, Michigan 
Alex Marinier, Grad., Attack, Ohio State + 
Bobby Van Buren, Grad., Defense, Ohio State + 
Caleb Fyock, Jr., Attack, Ohio State + 
Alex Ross, Sr., Defense, Penn State ^ 
Hunter Aquino, So., Midfield, Penn State * 
Jon King, Sr., Defensive Midfield, Penn State 
Cardin Stoller, Jr., Goalie, Rutgers + 
Colin Kurdyla, Jr., Attack, Rutgers ^ 
Joe Juengerkes, Grad, SSDM, Rutgers ^ 

+ 2025 All-Big Ten First Team 
^2025 All-Big Ten Second Team 
* 2025 All-Big Ten Freshman Team