[COLLEGE MEN] Akron, the No. 1 team in the Soccer America Men's Top 25 every week this season, is first in the initial Men's Division I RPI index the NCAA released Tuesday.

(Click here for the complete men's RPI.)

The RPI -- Ratings Percentage Index -- is the most important of the criteria the NCAA uses to determine the 48-team field for the NCAA Division I Men's Tournament. The RPI is a mathematical formula designed to objectively compare results and strength of schedule.

The highest ranked teams that did not make the RPI Top 25 are No. 3 Virginia (29 in the RPI rankings), No. 6 Connecticut (27) and No. 9 UC Irvine (42).

Two teams ranked in the RPI top 10 -- William & Mary (8) and College of Charleston (10) -- are not ranked in the Soccer America Top 25.

The Big Ten led all conferences with four teams in the RPI Top 25. The ACC, Big East, CAA and Conference USA have three apiece.

Only two West Coast schools -- California (13) and UCLA (20) -- were ranked in the Top 25.

Last year, the ACC had four teams in the top eight and five in the top 12 of the initial RPI rankings.

MEN'S SOCCER (RPI TOP 25)
1, Akron, Mid-American (1)
2, SMU, Conference USA (7)
3, North Carolina, ACC (2)
4, Ohio State, Big Ten (19)
5, Michigan State, Big Ten (13)
6, Louisville, Big East (5)
7, Maryland, ACC (4)
8, William & Mary, CAA (NR)
9, Butler, Horizon (8)
10, College of Charleston, Southern (NR)
11, Penn State, Big Ten (25)
12, Brown, Ivy (17)
13, California, Pacific-10 (11)
14, Creighton, Missouri Valley (16)
15, Duke, ACC (14)
16, Notre Dame, Big East (21)
17, West Virginia, Big East (NR)
18, Monmouth, Northeast (20)
19, South Carolina, Conference USA (NR)
20, UCLA, Pacific-10 (10)
21, Fla. Gulf Coast, Atlantic Sun (24)
22, Indiana, Big Ten (18)
23, UNC Wilmington, CAA (NR)
24, Tulsa, Conference USA (13)
25, Old Dominion, CAA (23)
Note: In parentheses are current Soccer America Top 25 rankings.