Division 3's most prestigious academic league is also one of the strongest in the country. With perennial NCAA title contender Tufts routinely atop the NESCAC, the next tier of the league is always difficult to discern.
This season that's more true than it ever was, as a number of teams have managed to fistfight for the No. 2 spot -- with two surprising contenders rising to the challenge.
Amherst and Bowdoin sat out last season and appointed new coaches in the wake of those decisions. As a result, no one really knew what to make of their squads going into 2022. But if early indicators hold true, we now know that both the Mammoths and the Polar Bears are back and better than anyone anticipated.
Big wins this weekend for both of those programs -- as well as a monumental upset -- means that the NESCAC is as fun and unpredictable as it's ever been.
