SwimSwam Pulse: 71.9% Pick No ‘B’ Finals As Biggest Issue With New NCAA Format

SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.

Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which recent NCAA Championship change they dislike the most.

Question: What is your biggest issue with the NCAA Championship changes?

RESULTS

• No ‘B’ finals – 71.9%
• New schedule/event conflicts – 13.5%
• Qualifying – mid-major conference wrinkle – 7.5%
• No issues – 7.1%

Two weeks ago, the NCAA approved the Division I swimming & diving championship format changes that were proposed back in the summer, and unexpectedly, they come into immediate effect for the 2026 NCAAs.

Although the new format is intended to modernize college swimming and implement a more broadcast-friendly product, there has been plenty of blowback from fans about the changes.

In our latest A3 Performance Poll, we asked readers what their biggest gripe was regarding the changes, also providing voters who like the new format with the chance to be heard.

Leading the poll by a landslide, as expected, was the removal of consolation finals from the championships, with 71.9% of votes.

Previously, swimmers who finished 9th through 16th in the prelims would contest the consolation final at night to fight for points and get another chance to race at the biggest meet of the year, but now, only the top eight will swim in the evening. The points that were previously awarded to the ‘B’ final swimmers will now be distributed based on where they finish in the heats.

Based on data compiled by SwimSwam’s Andrew Mering, if consolation finals were removed from the last five Women’s NCAA Championship meets (2021-2025), there would’ve been a 36% reduction of schools with an individual evening swim. For the men, an average of 27% of schools would lose individual evening swims at NCAAs over the last five years.

In 2025, 10 of the 34 schools (29%) at the Women’s NCAA Championships would’ve lost their evening swim(s) with no ‘B’ finals, while seven of the 29 schools that had individual finalists (24%) at Men’s NCAAs would’ve been left without any night swims.

WOMEN

Data not including diving

MEN

Data not including diving

While removing consolation finals was designed to optimize the event schedule for the broadcast, hardcore swim fans are clearly against the move as they’ll now see half the amount of individual heats at night, when a buzzing crowd and excitement on pool deck can lead to some phenomenal performances.

Removing individual ‘B’ finals from the NCAA Championships is the second reduction to the meet schedule in the last five years, as in 2021, prior to the first championship meet after the outbreak of COVID-19, the NCAA removed prelim relays from the meet.

Ranking #2 in the poll, trailing by a wide margin, is the new event order, which creates some scheduling conflicts for top female swimmers such as Torri Huske, Claire Curzan and Bella Sims, and male swimmers such as Hubert Kos and Luca Urlando.

The 50 free/100 back, 200 IM/200 back and 200 IM/200 fly are the most common conflicts that have been created by the new schedule.

New Event Order

Another change to NCAAs is a new qualifying window for mid-major swimmers, as they’ll now have the opportunity to automatically qualify for the championships by winning their conference title and going under the qualifying standard. Although some argue that this will result in some Power conference swimmers being knocked out of NCAAs for slower mid-majors, only 7.5% voted for this option in the poll.

Just over 7% of the remaining votes went to “no issues,” telling us that 92.9% of readers aren’t thrilled with the new format.

Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: With Ariarne Titmus retiring, what stands out to you as her best swim?

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ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE

The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.