The South enters this season with plenty of unknowns, making it one of the most intriguing regions to watch. Much of its strength will depend on the addition and development of new programs, and the NCDA is excited to welcome the Alabama Crimson Tide into league play. Georgia Tech is another prospective team on the horizon, adding to the buzz surrounding the region’s growth.
Despite the uncertainty, one thing feels certain — Northern Kentucky enters as the clear favorite to repeat as South Dodgeball Cup champions. With their experience and proven track record, NKU will set the standard for the rest of the region to chase.
Northern Kentucky
NKU looks to build off what can objectively be viewed as progression and development from their second full season in the league. Coming off of their South Dodgeball Cup victory, they believe they have what it takes to repeat as SDC champs and have set their sights on being solidly in the top 16 bracket of Nationals come April. Reports out of Highland Heights say the Norse have solidified their best recruiting class in their program’s short history, and are poised to be significantly more athletic than they have been in years past. NKU is hoping for a strong performance at their first appearance of the 2025/26 season at Cincinnati’s Clifton Heights Classic IV on the 27th. A scrimmage with UC notwithstanding, it will be a good opportunity to get their freshman class their first true taste of competitive play, and set them up for success as the season goes on. Alongside mainstays Will Strong and first-time Captain Braylon Patton, NKU believes rookies Cohen Bronke, JJ Foltz, and Keandre Durrett should be standouts for the club all season. With that being said, they believe their rookie class goes much deeper than this, and don’t be surprised if multiple other names step forward and play a huge role in the club’s success this year. The open division is not the only place the Norse plan to have success this year, as they have the makings of a women’s team as well! Sophomore Mia Richardson returns, and will be flanked by athletic rookies Morgan Russell, Layla Holt, and Marisa Bloemer. Look for this group to gain traction as they learn the sport and get experience playing no sting and turn some heads come Nationals.
Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern took a big step forward last season, surpassing in-state rival North Georgia and showing signs of becoming a real contender in the South. The key challenge now is consistency — if this squad can keep a roster together through the spring, it will be exciting to see them make the trip to Nationals. With plenty to prove and momentum on their side, Georgia Southern is one of the region’s biggest wild cards heading into the year.
North Georgia
UNG enters the year as more of an unknown, but that also makes them an intriguing team to watch. If they can stay active and commit to traveling, there’s plenty of potential for growth. With in-state competition already raising the bar, UNG has a clear opportunity to carve out their place in the South — it’s simply a matter of how much they are able to put into the season.
Alabama
The Crimson Tide bring plenty of promise as one of the newest additions to the NCDA. With their size and brand recognition, Alabama is exactly the type of program you expect to grow quickly and stick around long-term. The key for their first season will be gaining experience and building consistency, but if they can do that in the fall, don’t be surprised to see them challenging for the South Dodgeball Cup by year’s end.
Ole Miss
Ole Miss remains an unknown in the South. After making their debut two years ago, the question is whether this program will stick around and commit to growth. If they do, it would be massive for the region to have another marquee school in the mix, giving the South more stability and more high-profile matchups to build on.