PRINCETON, N.J. – The Ivy League is coming off a highly successful men’s lacrosse season that saw three programs reach the NCAA Tournament (Cornell, Princeton and Harvard), highlighted by a national title by Cornell with CJ Kirst winning the 2025 Tewaaraton Award. Ahead of the 2026 season, Princeton has been selected as the favorite in the Ivy League men’s lacrosse preseason poll.

Princeton earned 96 points and 12 first-place votes to top the preseason rankings. Defending NCAA champion Cornell was picked second with 85 points and two first-place votes, while Harvard rounded out the top three with 69 points. Yale placed fourth with 50 points, followed by Dartmouth (42), Penn (32) and Brown (18).

Six Ivies are currently either ranked or receiving votes in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason poll, including Princeton (No. 2 with one first place vote), Cornell (No. 4 with four first place votes), Harvard (No. 13), with Yale, Penn and Dartmouth all receiving votes. 

The 2026 Ivy League men’s lacrosse season is set to begin in February, with all seven teams preparing for another competitive spring. The 2026 Ivy League men’s lacrosse tournament will take place Friday, May 1 and Sunday, May 3 at the site of the No. 1 seed.

2026 IVY LEAGUE MEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)