Texas is back. Honestly, if you follow college swimming even casually, that sentence probably feels like a broken record, but the way it happened in 2025 was different. There was this palpable tension at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. People were breathing heavy, and not just the guys in the water.
Bob Bowman, the man who basically engineered Michael Phelps into a machine, did the "impossible." He switched schools from Arizona State to Texas and won the whole thing in his first year. That made him the first coach ever to win back-to-back NCAA Men's Swimming Championships with two different programs.
But look, the 2026 season is already shifting the vibe. We’re heading to Atlanta in March, and the landscape is shifting. If you think this is just a bunch of guys in goggles staring at a black line, you’re missing the absolute chaos of the deck.
The 2025 Fallout and Why Texas Still Rules
Texas finished with 490 points last year. It wasn't a blowout. Cal was right there with 471, and Indiana—who had a monster diving week—grabbed 459. It came down to depth. Texas didn't just have stars; they had an army.
Hubert Kós was the story. The guy is a technician. He swept his individual events, but that 200 backstroke? He went 1:34.21. He didn't just break the record; he obliterated what Destin Lasco had done the year before by over a full second. In swimming, a second is an eternity. It’s the difference between a gold medal and not even making the podium.
The Leon Marchand Void
Let's address the elephant in the room: Leon Marchand. The guy turned the NCAA into his personal playground before going pro. His 4:02.31 in the 500 free and that mind-bending 400 IM are still the gold standards.
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When a "once-in-a-century" talent leaves, the power vacuum is real. Arizona State felt it. They dropped to 6th last year after winning it all in 2024. But don't count them out for 2026. Leon might be gone, but the culture Bob Bowman left behind (and that Herbie Behm is now running) is still incredibly fast.
What to Expect at the 2026 NCAA Men's Swimming Championships
The 2026 meet is slated for March 25-28 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta. It's a fast pool. Like, really fast. Some of the biggest records in history have fallen there, including many of Marchand's early strikes.
The Sprinters’ War
The 50 and 100 freestyle are going to be bloodbaths. Jordan Crooks from Tennessee is gone now, leaving Josh Liendo from Florida as the man with the target on his back. Liendo is a freak of nature. He went 39.99 in the 100 free to win his third straight title last year.
He’s going for the four-peat in 2026. Only a handful of legends have ever done that.
- Josh Liendo (Florida): The heavy favorite.
- Gui Caribe (Tennessee): The guy who keeps Liendo awake at night.
- Chris Guiliano (Texas): The engine of the Longhorn sprint corps.
The Indiana "Diving Problem"
Most people forget diving counts for the same points as swimming. Indiana doesn't. They scored 117 points just from the boards last year. Carson Tyler is a legend—he was the first diver to win three straight platform titles.
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If Indiana can keep their diving dominance while Zalan Sarkany continues to terrorize the distance freestyle events, they are a legitimate threat to leapfrog Cal and Texas for the 2026 trophy. Sarkany is basically a metronome in the 1650. He wins by lengths, not touches.
The Global Influence You Probably Didn’t Notice
About 15% of NCAA swimmers are international. In 2025, seven of the 16 individual titles went to non-U.S. athletes. This isn't just an "American" championship anymore. It’s a mini-Olympics held in a 25-yard pool.
You’ve got Canadians like Liendo, Hungarians like Kós, and French stars following the Marchand blueprint. This diversity is what’s pushing the times down. The "American" style of swimming—heavy on power and starts—is being mashed together with the European "engine" style.
Why the 2026 Meet in Atlanta is Different
Atlanta has a capacity of about 1,900 people. It’s going to be loud. It’s going to be humid. And because it's Georgia Tech's home turf, expect the ACC teams to have a slight mental edge.
Texas is currently ranked #1 in the early 2026 power rankings, but Florida and Arizona State are lurking. Florida just added Ahmed Jaouadi, a world-class distance swimmer who is going to give Sarkany a run for his money in the mile.
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Key Events to Watch in 2026:
- The 400 IM: Can anyone get near Marchand’s ghost? Probably not, but watching guys try is fascinating.
- The 200 Back: Hubert Kós vs. the clock.
- The 100 Free: Liendo’s quest for immortality.
How to Follow the Action Like a Pro
Don't just look at the winners. Look at the "B" finals. The guys finishing 9th through 16th are often what win the team title. One "mishap"—a false start or a bad turn in a relay—can swing 40 points.
If you're looking to actually track this, keep an eye on the Psych Sheets that come out a few weeks before the meet. They tell you who is seeded where, but they’re often a lie. Coaches play games. They enter swimmers in events they don't plan to swim just to keep the other teams guessing.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Athletes
If you're a fan trying to catch the 2026 NCAA Men's Swimming Championships, here is your checklist:
- Get Tickets Early: All-session passes for the men go on sale January 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. through the Georgia Tech ticket office. They sell out in minutes.
- Watch the Conference Meets: Watch the SECs and Big Tens in mid-February. That’s where the "taper" starts, and you’ll see who is actually in form.
- Follow the Dive Zones: Diving qualifying (Zones) happens in early March. If a big name from Indiana or Texas A&M fails to qualify there, the team race changes instantly.
- Stream on ESPN+: Most of the prelims and finals will be there. Prelims start at 10 a.m. local time, and that's where the real heartbreak happens.
Swimming is a sport of millimeters and milliseconds. In Atlanta, with the way the talent is spread out across Texas, Florida, and Cal, we might see the closest team finish in a decade. Keep your eyes on the lanes.