Cornell lacrosse legend Rob Pannell talks upcoming PLL season, reveals his 2026 NCAA tournament favorites

Cornell lacrosse legend Rob Pannell talks upcoming PLL season, reveals his 2026 NCAA tournament favorites originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . May is a big month for the sport of lacrosse.

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) season will kick off on May 8, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at Zions Bank Stadium. The 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament begins on May 6 and culminates on May 25 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ahead of the lax festivities, I caught up with Maryland Whipsnakes attackman and Cornell Big Red legend Rob Pannell, who is 23 points away from breaking Paul Rabil’s all-time PLL points record this season, and once upon a time broke the all-time NCAA Division I points record and Cornell program assist record during his five-year Ivy League career.

Pannell discussed several pertinent issues to the sport, including CityLax, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of New York City middle school and high school students through the game of lacrosse, ahead of their annual gala on Wednesday, May 6, at the New York Athletic Club . On what would constitute a successful PLL season in 2026… “Sold-out stadiums, record-breaking viewership on ESPN. A competitive environment.

A successful launch of the WLL (Women’s Lacrosse League), which is playing its first games this year. I think all those things are a focus. ” On who he feels will be the PLL’s breakout player this season… “I'm going to go with someone on my team who had a great rookie year last year, but I think he has the potential to be the best player in the league … that's Aidan Carroll, who played at Georgetown, and he played attack for us last year.