Falcons, Cards, Aggies, Vols In Semifinals Saturday

Four powerhouse collegiate rugby programs are set to clash this Saturday in the Division I-AA semifinals, with Louisville (9-0), Bowling Green (9-3), Texas A&M (8-1), and Tennessee (10-0) all vying for a coveted spot in the national championship game in Houston. In a highly anticipated MAC rematch, undefeated Louisville faces Bowling Green, having already defeated their rivals twice this season by identical 32-22 scores, including a hard-fought MAC final where Bowling Green rallied to within 26-20 before the Cardinals sealed the victory with late penalties. Meanwhile, the other semifinal features Texas A&M taking on a dominant Tennessee side, which previously handed the Aggies a decisive 46-17 defeat 15 months ago, powered by standout performances from players like flyhalf Brendan O’Neill, who accounted for 21 points in that game. However, a transformed Texas A&M under new coach Tui Osborne, who aims to become the first coach to win national titles with three different programs after victories with Life 7s and St. Bonaventure XVs, recently demonstrated their prowess by defeating back-to-back national champions Kentucky 38-36 with a last-gasp penalty, a team Tennessee also bested 39-22 for the SCRC title. These high-stakes matchups promise thrilling collegiate rugby, showcasing the nation's top DI-AA talent and setting the stage for an epic national final, with both games streaming live on tv.ncr.rugby.