Virginia head coach Todd DeSorbo answered questions on the @UVAswimdive Instagram story on Wednesday. When replying to the question, “initial thoughts on new NCAA format” he said “it is what it is…but the one thing I am not necessarily a fan of is dropping the ‘B’ finals.” Former NC State swimmer Katharine Berkoff also spoke on the removal of the ‘B’ finals.
Earlier this month, the NCAA approved numerous changes to the 2026 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships including changing the order of events, removing ‘B’ finals and scoring 9-16th from prelims, automatic qualifications, and broadcast schedule changes.
He answered two questions related to the changes. The first being “How much of an adjustment will you guys need regarding the new NCAA event schedule?”
DeSorbo replied, “It’s relative to the individuals, it’s probably four or five total on our team between the men and the women that will have to make adjustments and maybe swim a different third event that they might normally have swum. But thankfully we train to be pretty versatile and you know we’ll just make that shift and might have a few more people swimming the 50 free than we had originally.”
The second question he replied to was, “Initial thoughts on the new NCAA format?.”
DeSorbo replied, “Well, one, it is what it is, so we’ll deal with it, but I would say it’s kind of whatever. But the one thing I am not necessarily a fan of is dropping the ‘B’ finals. I like athletes having those opportunities to race a little bit more. I understand the concept and you know my suggestion would have been to do the ‘B’ finals before the main finals or even after, and maybe, maybe that’ll get changed, who knows, but generally, we’re gonna do out best with whatever is handed to us.”
DeSorbo has led the Virginia women to five-straight NCAA team titles. The women currently sit at #1 in SwimSwam’s power rankings while the meet are ranked #9.
He is not the only individual to speak up specifically about the removal of the ‘B’ finals. On Monday, US Olympian and former NC State swimmer Katharine Berkoff spoke of the change on her Instagram story.
When replying on her Instagram story to the question, “what do you think about NCAA removing the ‘B’ finals?” Berkoff replied, “I actually hate that they did that. I love watching NCAAs and it’s such a competitive meet and already so hard to get a second swim. I’m holding onto hope that they backtrack on this.”
Biggest name athlete I’ve seen speak out with an opinion on removing B Finals from the NCAA Championships. (Olympian Katharine Berkoff, who is out of eligibility). pic.twitter.com/uZ2fhzInOs
— Braden Keith (@Braden_Keith) October 20, 2025
If you want to decrease swimming viewership, have more swimmers swim only in the morning (when most people are at work) and decrease the number of swimmers swimming in the evening. Seems to me that the NCAA has done exactly that. All relays (but top 8) swim in the morning and now there is no B final in the evening. Sounds like an excellent way to kill swimming at a time when NCAA non-revenue sports are struggling.
What about conference championships? Will conferences keep B finals? and C finals for those that include those?
Haven’t heard of any changes for conference meets.
Just kind of realized the event order screws this up for Max Williamson. Starting out freshman year training for 50 fr vs 200 IM feels like one of those “sliding doors” moments for a career
how does anyone think changing the order of events will attract more viewers???
If he trains for the 50 free, it’s over
Non-swimmers aren’t going to watch NCAAs, no matter what chances are made. It’s a pretty niche audience, and that audience knows placing top 16 at NCAA is still super impressive (and/or they want to watch their friend/family/teammate).
Exactly. We’ve got these people screaming for change into the abyss for change but there is probably not a single just random swim fan out there. After they graduate, probably of a majority of swimmers that make NCAA’s probably don’t watch. Shoot, some of them hate the sport they won’t go in a pool for fun anymore.
No one has been talking about all relay teams except top 8 moved to the morning but that in my opinion is a far bigger loss in terms of visibility and competitive disadvantage for the majority of programs.
Wait I didn’t even pick up on that change, I hate that too.
The timed finals aspect of the relays before was annoying and those at least all went at the same time. I get that it’s sorta better for teams GOING FAST b/c it reduces swims, but seeing the results of a race and having to mentally math out who places where is just wildly not fun, and they added a ton of that by getting rid of B finals.
Perhaps this was discussed at the various meetings surrounding these changes, but I’m flummoxed why the B Finals cannot simply be swum separately untelevised after the A Finals / Relays session? (or perhaps before)
That is the format for many USA Swimming national meets (although it’s the A & B Finals swum in the main session, with C Finals separate and afterward). It works great and keeps the main session to around an hour. Peacock (NBC affiliate) broadcasts just fine, and it’s a nice McNugget-size session.
Right. Or simply just stream those pesky B finals.
They just lose so much representation of different schools and conferences by dropping them. It feels so weird when they make another decision to try and get more schools and conferences at the meet with the champion invite change. I know dropping the B finals is more about belief about it making the broadcasting better, but it still feels like that is the wrong thing to cut for time given the nature of other changes. Just feels so cross purpose and not cohesive and that’s not good for any plan.
The B finals flatter the championship race to follow. There’s normally a name brand swimmer or two. Competitive races and everyone takes note of the time. Then that time is smashed in the feature.
I have no idea what is being improved via elimination. In recent years Rowdy and the play by play guy would always tout it as “bonus coverage” when there was enough time to show the B race, which was most of the time.
I think some NCAA upper tier idiots watched a tape or two and thought they had to make a change for the sake of change.
In Fort Lauderdale in May I stayed all the way through the C races. That was very… Read more »
I asked AI to write me some more paragraphs on this article and it said this
DeSorbo also emphasized the importance of adaptability in the face of change, noting that the team’s training philosophy is built around preparing athletes for a variety of race scenarios. “We’ve always focused on versatility and resilience,” he said. “Whether it’s a new format or a different lineup, our swimmers know how to respond.”
Several coaches and athletes across the NCAA have voiced mixed reactions to the removal of the ‘B’ finals. While some support the streamlined format, others argue that it limits competitive opportunities for swimmers outside the top eight. Berkoff, who competed in multiple ‘B’ finals during her collegiate career, stated… Read more »
You wasted a glass of water.