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The 2026 College Men's Soccer Programs Losing the Most Seniors

If you're a club coach, parent, or athlete planning a 2026 or 2027 recruiting push, senior departures are your first breadcrumb trail. When experienced players graduate, scholarships, walk-on slots, and meaningful playing time open up. With 2025 rosters already finalized across 802 NCAA men's soccer programs inside Rosterhunter, we can spotlight where those seniors are set to leave the biggest gaps before the 2026 season kicks off.

Key takeaways

  • 641 teams (79.9%) are losing five or more seniors, creating immediate roster openings across Division I, II, and III
  • Power programs like Bryant (54.5% senior share), Lindenwood (56.7%), and FGCU (53.6%) are losing 15+ veterans, signaling high-major playing time opportunities
  • Division I programs average 8.12 seniors (27.7% share), Division II average 8.28 (23.7%), and Division III average 6.25 (19.3%)
  • Early outreach in August-September gives recruits a significant advantage before coaches' inboxes flood during peak recruiting season
  • Position-specific analysis via Rosterhunter's filters helps athletes identify where their skills match graduating senior roles

Quick Reference: Key Data Points

In this analysis

Why Senior Departures Matter

In college men's soccer recruiting, senior departures equal roster openings. Each senior class that walks on senior night represents a scholarship or walk-on slot opening for the next wave of recruits—and families who understand the numbers get in front first.

The Recruiting Advantage of Tracking Seniors

  • Early identification: Senior-heavy depth charts force coaching staffs to replace experience fast—often long before a roster update hits the public site. Athletes who track these openings early have months of lead time over competitors who wait for official announcements.
  • Position-specific targeting: Tracking graduation counts by position lets athletes, parents, and club staffs prioritize outreach where depth charts thin out the most. If you're a goalkeeper and a program is graduating three senior goalkeepers, that's a clear signal of need.
  • Coach relationship building: Early insight means you can get on a call list before inboxes overflow during spring evaluation. Coaches remember proactive recruits who reach out before the rush.
  • Scholarship optimization: Programs losing multiple seniors often have scholarship dollars to redistribute. Understanding these turnover patterns helps families identify both need-based and merit-based financial aid opportunities.

How We Built the 2026 Senior Watchlist

To isolate the true 2026 openings, we audited 2025 rosters—the most recent season on record—and tagged the senior column for every NCAA men's soccer team across all three divisions.

Methodology

Our analysis process included:

  1. Data collection: Filtered all men's soccer programs by 2025 roster data across Division I, Division II, and Division III (total: 802 programs)
  2. Senior identification: Counted graduating seniors on each roster and calculated senior share using the formula: (seniors ÷ full roster) × 100
  3. Threshold setting: Flagged programs graduating five or more seniors as high-opportunity targets, recognizing that 3-4 seniors is typical for most programs
  4. Cross-verification: Cross-referenced senior counts with roster graduation years to ensure accuracy

Key Definitions

Results Summary

  • 641 teams (79.9%) will lose five or more seniors, representing significant roster turnover
  • Top outlier: Francis Marion leads with 23 seniors (46.9% of roster)
  • Power conference impact: Multiple Division I and high-major programs appear in the Top 25, creating rare opportunities for elite recruits

Top 25 Men's Soccer Programs Losing Seniors in 2026

Below are the 25 programs with the largest senior classes on their 2025 rosters. Each listing links directly to the live Rosterhunter profile so you can dive into positional needs, and contact info in seconds.

Rank Program Division Conference Seniors Roster Size Senior Share
1 Francis Marion Division II Conference Carolinas 23 49 46.9%
2 Thomas More Division II G-MAC 20 44 45.5%
3 Barton Division II Conference Carolinas 19 41 46.3%
4 Bryant Division I America East 18 33 54.5%
5 New Haven Division I NEC 18 46 39.1%
6 Bridgeport Division II CACC 18 32 56.2%
7 Christian Brothers Division II Gulf South 18 42 42.9%
8 Tampa Division II Sunshine State 18 43 41.9%
9 Lindenwood Division I OVC 17 30 56.7%
10 North Greenville Division II Conference Carolinas 17 49 34.7%
11 Post Division II CACC 17 35 48.6%
12 Florida Tech Division II Sunshine State 16 32 50.0%
13 Lenoir-Rhyne Division II SAC 16 40 40.0%
14 Newman Division II GAC 16 50 32.0%
15 Endicott Division III CNE 16 40 40.0%
16 FGCU Division I ASUN 15 28 53.6%
17 Fordham Division I Atlantic 10 15 31 48.4%
18 Seton Hall Division I Big East 15 28 53.6%
19 Anderson (SC) Division II SAC 15 34 44.1%
20 Concord Division II MEC 15 63 23.8%
21 Hawaii Hilo Division II PacWest 15 31 48.4%
22 St. Thomas Aquinas Division II ECC 15 38 39.5%
23 USC Aiken Division II Peach Belt 15 38 39.5%
24 Cal Lutheran Division III SCIAC 15 42 35.7%
25 Mary Hardin-Baylor Division III ASC 15 49 30.6%

Top 25 Insights: What Stands Out

Division I programs under pressure: Bryant University, New Haven, Lindenwood, FGCU, Fordham, and Seton Hall are all losing 15+ veterans, signaling immediate high-major playing time for goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. These Division I programs rarely see this level of turnover, making 2026 a unique opportunity for elite recruits.

Conference Carolinas dominance: Francis Marion, Barton, and North Greenville give Conference Carolinas recruits multiple high-turnover options, with Francis Marion leading all programs with 23 seniors graduating. Regional athletes in the Southeast should prioritize these programs for 2026-2027 recruiting.

Division II volatility: Division II programs dominate the Top 25, with 16 programs appearing in the rankings. Francis Marion, Thomas More, and Barton headline programs with 19+ seniors, representing exceptional opportunities for athletes seeking Division II competition.

Conference clusters: Multiple programs from the same conferences appear in the Top 25 (Conference Carolinas, CACC, Sunshine State, SAC, Big East), suggesting systemic recruiting opportunities within specific geographic or academic regions.

Division Breakdown: Where 2026 Openings Concentrate

Senior share varies significantly by division, with Division I programs showing the highest average senior turnover.

  • Division I: 209 programs, averaging 8.12 seniors and a 27.7% senior share. Bryant University's 18 seniors and 54.5% senior share lead the DI churn, followed closely by Lindenwood at 56.7% senior share.
  • Division II: 195 programs, averaging 8.28 seniors and a 23.7% senior share. Francis Marion, Thomas More, and Barton each graduate 19+ seniors, opening scholarship paths across the Southeast and Midwest.
  • Division III: 398 programs, averaging 6.25 seniors and a 19.3% senior share. Endicott, Cal Lutheran, and Mary Hardin-Baylor feature prominently with 15-16 seniors each.

Action Plan: What This Means for 2026 and 2027 Recruits

Step 1: Identify Your Target Programs

  1. Start with the Top 25: Review programs in the rankings above that match your academic profile and geographic preferences
  2. Expand your search: Use Rosterhunter's filters to find all 641 programs with 5+ seniors graduating
  3. Filter by division: Match your competitive level (D1, D2, or D3) and academic focus
  4. Check position needs: Use position-specific filters to identify where your skills fit departing senior roles

Step 2: Prepare Your Outreach Materials

Before contacting coaches, ensure you have:

  • Updated highlight reel: Latest game footage showcasing your current skills
  • Academic profile: GPA, test scores, and course list ready to share
  • Competition schedule: Upcoming tournaments and showcases where coaches can see you play
  • Personal statement: Brief explanation of why you're interested in their program

Step 3: Make Contact Strategically

  • Prioritize high-impact programs: Start with Division I programs losing 15+ seniors (Bryant, New Haven, Lindenwood, FGCU, Fordham, Seton Hall, etc.)
  • Personalize each message: Reference specific senior departures and roster openings from their Rosterhunter profile
  • Follow up consistently: Track all communication in Rosterhunter's recruiting board
  • Include family support: Have parents or club coaches ready to assist with scheduling and logistics

Step 4: Leverage Position-Specific Data

Programs losing multiple seniors at one position create the most opportunity:

  • Goalkeepers: Programs losing 2+ senior goalkeepers need immediate replacements
  • Defenders: Critical position where departures create clear openings
  • Midfielders: The most common position, but high senior counts still indicate need
  • Forwards: Specialized position where departures create scoring opportunities

Pro Tip: Pair this senior data with Rosterhunter's roster analysis tools. View four-year roster charts to see graduation patterns and identify programs likely to need your position in 2027 as well.

Step 5: Plan Campus Visits

Programs with high senior turnover often host larger recruiting visits to replace graduating classes. Plan unofficial visits during:

  • Fall 2025: During active season to see team culture
  • Spring 2026: During evaluation periods when coaches make offers

Recruiting Timeline: When to Take Action

Timing matters in college men's soccer recruiting. Here's when to leverage this data:

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Data Methodology: This analysis is based on verified 2025 roster data from 802 NCAA men's soccer programs tracked in Rosterhunter's database. Senior counts reflect players in their fourth year of eligibility (or fifth year for redshirt seniors) who will graduate after the 2025 season. Data was collected and verified as of December 2025.

About This Analysis

This data analysis was compiled by the Rosterhunter Insights team to help college men's soccer recruits, parents, and coaches make data-driven recruiting decisions. We analyzed complete 2025 roster data across all three NCAA divisions to identify programs with the highest senior turnover—indicating the greatest roster openings for 2026-2027 recruits.

"We built Rosterhunter to make recruiting transparent. Instead of guessing where spots open up, players can see the numbers. Every roster tells a story—and we help athletes read it."
— Mira Solis, Editor-in-Chief, Rosterhunter Insights

Last Updated: December 3, 2025
Data Source: Rosterhunter database (802 verified NCAA men's soccer programs)
Next Update: This analysis will be refreshed with 2026 roster data after the 2026 season concludes

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