The wait is over. College dodgeball is back, and the Ohio region is ready to get to work.
The 2026–27 season brings a familiar mix of contenders, rising programs and teams looking to make their move. Veterans will be asked to carry bigger roles, new talent will have its chance to emerge, and the preseason rankings will quickly give way to what actually happens on the court.
With Nationals sitting at the end of the road, every matchup matters. The Ohio region has plenty of teams capable of making noise… the question is which ones will actually deliver.
Ohio State
2026 Record: 22-5
2026 Nationals Finish: National Runners-Up
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #2
Ohio State came painfully close to finishing the job last season. After claiming the Ohio Dodgeball Cup, the Buckeyes marched all the way to the National Championship, only to run into an undefeated Michigan State squad in a rematch of the 2024 title game. Another season, another second-place finish.
Now comes the hard part: staying at the top. The Buckeyes lose a wealth of experience with Nick Kemer, Jackson Bolognia, Will Bryan, and Max Edling moving on. That is a lot of firepower and leadership walking out the door, and there’s no guarantee the next wave can simply pick up where they left off.
But Ohio State still has two of the best players in the country in All-Americans Will Dalton and Colson Bunch. After putting together breakout campaigns last season, the two now have the opportunity to take ownership of this team and establish a new era of Buckeye dominance.
The question isn’t whether Ohio State can contend. They’ve already proven they can. The question is whether this new-look Buckeye squad can finally turn a string of deep tournament runs into a championship.
Cincinnati
2026 Record: 13-10
2026 Nationals Finish: Quarterfinals
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #3
The Bearcats put together an average campaign last year, but clearly aren’t being viewed as an average team heading into 2026–27. They open the preseason ranked No. 3, and there’s plenty of reason for that optimism.
The biggest piece is Will Hyatt, who is returning for another year while pursuing his graduate degree. His decision to run it back gives Cincinnati one of the region’s most proven veterans and immediately raises the ceiling of this team. Hayden Hollen and Brett Sweeney will also be key pieces as the Bearcats look to turn preseason hype into results.
Perhaps the most intriguing addition, however, will be on the sideline. New head coach Matthew Rosinski brings plenty of playing experience to the program, having previously earned All-American honors himself. Rosinski should bring a combination of dodgeball knowledge, experience, and, most importantly, good vibes to a Cincinnati team looking to make the jump from average to contender.
The preseason ranking says Cincinnati is ready to make that jump. Now they have to prove it on the court.
Kent State
2026 Record: 19-7
2026 Nationals Finish: Final Four
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #4
If you’re looking for a blueprint for rebuilding an NCDA program, look no further than Kent State. Not even five years ago, the Golden Flashes were on the brink of extinction. Now, they’re coming off a Final Four appearance and enter the season ranked No. 4 in the preseason power rankings. That kind of turnaround deserves some recognition.
Eman Miller and Evan Harbison will anchor the Golden Flashes as they look to prove last season was no fluke. There will be some important pieces to replace, however. The loss of JJ Oldenburg will take a significant chunk out of Kent State’s throwing depth, while reigning Rookie of the Year Genjiro Shimada heads back to Japan.
Still, Kent State has built this program by consistently finding and developing talent, and that will be put to the test once again. If the Golden Flashes can continue recruiting at the level they have over the past few seasons, there’s little reason to think this team can’t remain near the top of the Ohio region.
Miami
2026 Record: 16-5
2026 Nationals Finish: Quarterfinals
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #5
Miami enters the season with a roster that feels like it is waiting for someone to take the reins. The RedHawks lose All-American Philip Hampton and 2025 National Championship hero Ty Keller to graduation, leaving behind two major holes in both production and leadership.
The interesting part is that Miami doesn’t necessarily have to find one player to replace them. There isn’t an obvious superstar waiting in the wings, but there is plenty of solid talent across the roster. And in the NCDA, sometimes having a team full of good players is more than enough to win games.
Miami is coming off a solid season and should have the pieces to remain competitive. The question is whether one of those “good” players can turn into a great one. Someone will need to make that jump, emerge as the player teammates look to when the game is on the line, and give the RedHawks the star power they lost this offseason.
Ohio
2026 Record: 12-11
2026 Nationals Finish: Quarterfinals
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #8
Ohio is the litmus test for Ohio dodgeball. Beat the Bobcats, and you’re probably pretty decent. Lose to them, and you might want to start asking some questions. They’ve established themselves as one of those teams that can tell you a lot about where you actually stand.
Andrew Krankowski will provide veteran leadership and experience, while the on-court production should come from All-Rookie Team selection Alex Krouse and veteran Ryan “Hat Barriball” Theiss. The Bobcats have plenty of capable players, but similar to Miami, the biggest question is whether they have someone ready to separate themselves from the pack.
Ohio had zero First Team All-Americans last season, and I think that’s a big part of what has kept this team from making the jump from solid to elite. At some point, the Bobcats need a player who can consistently take over games and give them that extra gear against the best teams in the country.
Bowling Green State
2026 Record: 9-16
2026 Nationals Finish: Round of 16
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #11
Bowling Green has been floating around the bottom and middle of the Ohio region for quite some time. Nationally, they tend to rank better than you might expect, which is a testament to just how difficult the Ohio region is to play in.
The Falcons have also developed a reputation for being one of the more volatile teams in the region. They’re capable of knocking off teams that look better on paper, only to turn around and lose to teams they probably shouldn’t. When Bowling Green is playing well, they can be a real problem. The issue has been finding that level consistently.
I don’t see the Falcons making the jump into the upper echelon this season, but I would be happy to be proven wrong here.
Cleveland State
2026 Record: 8-12
2026 Nationals Finish: Round of 16
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #12
Cleveland State put together a solid season by their standards last year, and now they’ll be looking to prove it wasn’t a one-year flash in the pan.
Austin Blood will be at the center of that effort after finishing No. 2 on the All-Rookie list last season. The sophomore standout is going to have to shoulder a much bigger load this year, though that may be easier said than done. After turning heads around the region as a rookie, Blood won’t be flying under the radar anymore. Opposing teams know what he can do, and they’ll be coming into games with a game plan for him.
That added attention comes at an important time for Cleveland State, who also lose major contributors Yo Sagnes and Leon Rockamore Junior. If Blood & Co. can find some new contributors, the Vikings could build on last season and continue their upward trajectory.
Akron
2026 Record: 10-16
2026 Nationals Finish: Round of 16
Pre-Season Power Ranking: #14
Just two years removed from the best finish in program history, Akron enters this season ranked eighth in the Ohio region. The Zips reached the Final Four in that historic run, but the roster looks considerably different now after losing a huge chunk of that core.
Kyle Vonscio, Jeremy Faircloth, and Alexis Schultz are among the departures, leaving Akron with some serious holes to fill. That’s a steep drop-off on paper, but I’m not convinced this is where Akron stays.
The Zips have already shown they have the ability to build a competitive program, and with even a modest recruiting class, I expect them to climb back up the regional rankings. They don’t need to recreate that Final Four team overnight. They just need to start adding pieces. If Akron can find some new talent, don’t be surprised to see the Zips climbing the Ohio ladder sooner rather than later.