Division I Format Update for 2025–26: One Round of Pools, Everywhere

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — More consistency. Less guesswork. 

Starting this season, every Division I event at North American Cups, the Division I Championships in April and the July Challenge (part of Summer Nationals) will follow one standardized format: a single round of pools, followed by direct elimination. 

That means the same, predictable path from first bout to last. For context, last season (2024–25), Division I Men’s Epee and Men’s Foil could shift to a two‑round pool format if entries reached 203 or more, with the top 34 athletes receiving byes into the second pool round.

All other Division I NAC events (including saber) and the July Challenge used one round of six‑ or seven‑person pools with 75% promoted to single elimination, while the Division I National Championships used the same pool size with 80% promoted. 

• All Division I events will use a single round of pools with 6- or 7-person pools.
• 75% of athletes advance from pools to single-elimination.
• There is no threshold for switching to an alternate format — this structure is used regardless of event size.

• All Division I events at NACs
• The Division I Championships, held this season during the April NAC
• The July Challenge, held during Summer Nationals

With better-managed event sizes, this change allows us to offer a consistent, streamlined experience for Division I athletes and coaches across the entire season.