2025-26 Season Week 15 Recap

Week 16 delivered everything College Hockey South fans could ask for—ranked matchups with postseason implications, rivalry series that shaped the playoff picture, and defensive performances that stole the spotlight. From a split in Knoxville that shook up the M3 rankings to statement sweeps across multiple divisions, the road to February tightened as teams made their push toward the postseason. Here’s how the weekend unfolded across the conference.

Game of the Week: Clemson University Tigers (M3) at University of Tennessee Ice Vols (M3)

The Tigers traveled to Knoxville with a top-10 ranking to protect, and protect they did in the Game of the Week. 

Tennessee had the first threat of the contest, going on a 5 on 3 powerplay just minutes into the game. But in a shift that would set the tone for the rest of the night, Clemson’s Santiago Diaz scored on a breakaway to halt the early Ice Vol momentum. 

Two goals from Oliver Grinkin and another from Matt Franco helped swell the Tigers’ lead, and Clemson cruised to a 6-2 win on Saturday night. 

Sunday’s game saw sweet revenge for the Ice Vols, with Tennessee picking up a crucial 6-4 win over the tenth-ranked Tigers. Entering Week 15, Tennessee held the 11th seed in the Division 3 College Hockey South standings, and a winless weekend could have sent them into a free-fall down the rankings. 

We’ll see how the ACHA rankings are affected by the results in this series, but a win over a top-10 nationally ranked team could prove to be key in the Ice Vols’ quest to make the postseason.

University of Florida Gators (ACDC) vs Florida Tech Panthers (ACDC)

The top two teams in the ACDC standings faced off in a home-and-home set, but it was the Gators who established themselves as the team to beat in the division.

After protecting home ice with a 5-3 win, Florida invaded the Space Coast Iceplex to widen the gap between itself and the Panthers. Zack Zamiello’s two goals proved to be enough for Florida, stifling a usually potent Florida Tech attack, and winning 3-1 to sweep the weekend series.

With the series victory, Florida opens up an eight-point lead for first in the division, all but ensuring them the number one seed in the playoffs at the end of February.

UCF Knights (M3) at University of South Carolina Gamecocks (M3)

From one suffocating defense to another, the South Carolina Gamecocks continue to find victories under Joey Brochu. 

South Carolina entered 2026 ranked 4th in the ACHA national polls, which is the highest they’ve been all season. The spring semester began with a stiff challenge, though, as a pesky UCF team traveled to the Palmetto State.

Drew Durdov stole the show for the Gamecocks, stopping 73 of 76 shots en route to a dominant defensive performance. South Carolina improves its record to 8-2-0 on the season and has won five straight games.

The Knights fought valiantly on the road against the defending National Champions, but came up empty in the win column. They’ll have a chance to get back in “club dub” next weekend against Embry-Riddle (M3).

Conference Rivals Clash

The Women’s playoff picture became much clearer over the weekend, with a couple of North Division squads securing four points. 

Defending conference champion Alabama downed hated-rival Auburn twice to sweep the season series and increase its season point total to 18. The Frozen Tide outscored Auburn 18-4 in the three matchups this season.

Elsewhere in the North Division, South Carolina smothered Georgia 5-2 and 2-0 to extend its win streak to eight games. The Gamecocks were obliterated in their first two matchups this season, but haven’t lost since. South Carolina moves into a tie with Clemson with 14 points, with a massive meeting between the two clubs next weekend.

ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 29-school, 45 team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.