CSCAA Finalizes Proposal to NCAA Championships: Meet Format, Prelims Scoring Among Changes

• NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships Proposal Overview
• CSCAA Proposal 

The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) has submitted the first part of a two-part proposal package to the NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Committee, including changes to both the championship format and automatic qualification procedures, many of which aim to meet the demands of media partners like ESPN while preserving the sport’s competitive integrity and keeping implementation. Approved by the CSCAA Board of Directors, the changes are set to modernize and expand the college swimming and diving landscape. cost-neutral.

Final Scoring for 9th–16th Places to Come from Prelims

One of the most immediate and noticeable changes comes in the way consolation places are scored. In the morning prelims, swimmers, divers, and relay teams in 9th–16th positions will no longer compete in a nighttime B-final for consolation placement; their finishes will instead be determined by morning preliminary times alone.

The move aims to give more importance to the morning swims and provide the primetime broadcast a focus on championship races for national titles. The top 8 from prelims will still advance to finals. The report did not mention if the changes would reduce session length or create more dead time.

Broadcast-Driven Rescheduling: Diving Split, Awards Moved, Events re-ordered

The proposal also focused heavily on broadcaster feedback. Diving finals will be split into two segments—three rounds early in the session, and three more later—offering shorter, more digestible coverage windows and giving swimmers rest between events. Award ceremonies will also be moved out of the session flow to help broadcasts run cleaner and with fewer interruptions.

The meet program has also been modified, with more high-profile events scheduled for the last several days.  Although no new events are being added at this time, the proposal included two possible event orders. According to the report, the changes “are strategically designed to elevate the championship’s linear broadcast potential without negatively impacting student-athletes” and that “arquee events will now anchor the final days of competition.”

While ESPN does not share audience numbers for its streaming events, in-person attendance at the meet historically has grown throughout the meet, peaking on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Sample Order of Events – A

Sample Order of Events – B

No Expansion, No Added Cost

The proposal is committed to budget neutrality. The meet will continue to last four days, field sizes won’t increase, and roster restrictions won’t change.  The CSCAA forecasts that the adjustments could ultimately result in savings if the men’s and women’s meets are eventually combined—an option left up for future review.

New Qualification Model: Win-and-In With a Standard

The proposal’s second portion transforms the qualification procedure, instituting a single NCAA Championship standard. Under the new proposal, any swimmer who wins their conference title and achieves a national qualifying time in the event would automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. The existing descending order list procedure would be used for all other entries, though the idea of an “A” and a “B” standard would be eliminated. Presently, the “A” standard is almost meaningless at the D1 level, and the “B” standard’s only functional purpose is to limit swimmers’ ability to enter second or third events that they weren’t invited in, requiring them to be under that standard – though it’s rare that an invited swimmer would attempt to race an NCAA event where they weren’t. Typically, both standards are used as ornamental standards to celebrate good swims during the season.

With the goal to preserve meet size and expand institutional access, the qualifying times would be determined by averaging the 80th-best time over the previous three years.

Notably, in the proposal, diving remains unchanged and continues to rely on Zone meets for qualification standards.

What’s Next: August Submission, 2026 Rollout

The NCAA Swimming & Diving Committee approved the proposal in June, and it will now go before the NCAA Sport Oversight Committee in August. If cleared, implementation would begin with the 2026 NCAA Championships as a proof of concept. Full linear broadcast exposure is targeted for 2027.

According to CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany, the proposal “embodies a modern, equitable, and forward-thinking approach to championship competition.” The CSCAA believes the time is right to make NCAA swimming and diving more competitive, accessible, and visible.