Defending Champion Texas Longhorns Lead Men’s CSCAA Preseason Poll

The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) have released their preseason poll, with very few surprises at the top, with Texas and Cal taking the top two spots. Texas received all 15 first place votes, while the Golden Bears received all 15 second place votes. Florida, NC State and Indiana round out the top five.  

While some teams have begun competition, as the ‘preseason’ poll, pollsters were instructed to not penalize teams that have not yet competed.

Note: the CSCAA polls are designed to reflect dual meet strength, not necessarily a projection of NCAA Championship meet finish.

The Texas-Cal rivalry looks primed for yet another showdown at the end of March. At last year’s NCAA Championships, Texas edged out Cal 595 to 568, with both teams being over 200 points clear of third-place Florida. 

The two team hegemony has been the dominant storyline of the men’s NCAA Championships in recent years, as Texas and Cal have been the top two teams every year since 2014. In that time, Texas has claimed five national championships, while Cal has won two. Since 2010, Michigan’s title in 2013 is the only time a team other than Cal and Texas has finished in the top two. 

The biggest shakeup from last year’s NCAA results is the return of two programs to the poll that did not compete last season. The Arizona State Sun Devils, who redshirted their entire roster last year check in at 13th, while the Harvard Crimson, who return to competition after the Ivy League cancelled the 2020-21 swim season, rank 22nd.

One top 10 matchup highlights the men’s college dual meet schedule this weekend, as #2 Cal welcomes #9 Virginia to Berkeley.

Rk Prv Team Points
1 Texas 375
2 California 360
3 Florida 343
4 NC State 325
5 Indiana 295
6 Michigan 289
7 Louisville 286
8 Georgia 285
9 Virginia 259
10 Stanford 236
11 Ohio State 226
12 Virginia Tech 224
13 Arizona State 187
14 Missouri 178
15 Florida State 150
16 Texas A&M 140
17 Tennessee 117
18 Wisconsin 112
19 Georgia Tech 95
20 Alabama 91
21 North Carolina 61
22 Harvard 60
23 Southern California 49
24 Northwestern 36
25 Penn State 31

 

Also receiving votes: 

Arizona (19), LSU (13), Purdue (13), Notre Dame (10), Pittsburgh (5), Kentucky (3), Navy (2)

Men’s poll committee: 

Steve Barnes, Penn State; Jason Calanog, Texas A&M; Jerry Champer, Georgia; Matt Crispino, Princeton; Daniel Dozier, West Virginia; John Hargis, Pittsburgh; Jessica Livsey, Old Dominion; Craig Nisgor, Seattle; Bill Roberts (Chair), Navy; Dan Schemmel, Stanford; Rachel Stratton-Mills, Arizona State; Neal Studd, Florida State; Trevor Maida, Wisconsin; Braden Keith, SwimSwam; David Rieder, Swimming World.

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swimswamswum
2 years ago

I feel like swim swam must love getting to post these articles because every time people freak out over the rankings and how they won’t reflect NCAAs even though they are explicitly a dual meet ranking.

Admin
Reply to  swimswamswum
2 years ago

Yeah. Love that part. It’s super fun.

Tar Heel Swam
2 years ago

Interesting to look at the breakdown by conference –

ACC: 7 (NC State, Louisville, UVa, VT, FSU, Georgia Tech, & UNC)
Big 10: 6 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, & Penn State)
SEC: 6 (Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas A&M, Tennessee, & Alabama)
Pac 12: 4 (Cal, Stanford, ASU, USC)
Big 12: 1 (Texas)
Ivy League: 1 (Harvard)

I get that this is a dual meet poll & has very little meaning to the outcome of the actual season and can’t predict what will happen in March, I do think it’s interesting that the ACC has become **arguably** the deepest/most competitive conference in the country. I am a little biased towards the conference, but… Read more »

NC Fan
Reply to  Tar Heel Swam
2 years ago

And when you look at the coaching staffs you’ve got now established big guns and hot up-and-comers. Gonna be battles at the top for years to come and wars to break into the top 4…especially if Sergio keeps sneaking in stellar internationals somewhat ‘under the radar’ until they pop at big meets

Swimmer210
2 years ago

I wonder why stanford is 10th

So confused
Reply to  Swimmer210
2 years ago

You think they should be higher or lower?

PVSFree
2 years ago

When did Braden become part of the committee? That seems new to me. Big deal for increasing SwimSwam’s place in the swimming world though

Taa
Reply to  PVSFree
2 years ago

Rigged

Admin
Reply to  PVSFree
2 years ago

I’ve been on the committee for a few years. This is maybe by 3rd year?

coachymccoachface
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

brAdam “Scheffter” Keith

swammer
2 years ago

personally think USC is rated a little high considering the coaching situation and getting last a PACs last 2 years

Admin
Reply to  swammer
2 years ago

I had them at 25, so I agree on *a little* high, but remembering that this is a dual meet poll, they’re still deeper than a team like Penn State.

I was surprised that Arizona got as many votes as they did after the SMU Classic last weekend.

L Bryant
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

I was equally surprised that SMU didnt get any votes after the SMU Classic last weekend.

Admin
Reply to  L Bryant
2 years ago

I had them in my first few out.

While they did beat Arizona, and while they’re definitely an improving team, if you compare them to those bottom few teams that did get ranked, those other teams are still just a bit deeper and have 1 or 2 more superstars to carry the load.

I agree that I’m surprised that Arizona got so many votes and SMU got none, given that SMU was well ahead of Arizona at the SMU Classic.

tx swimmer
2 years ago

HOOK EM

Last edited 2 years ago by tx swimmer
StateGuy
2 years ago

Bayne Bennett. Zones qualification. First dual meet of the season. Watch out.

NC Fan
Reply to  StateGuy
2 years ago

Wow. First positive reference (ever?) to NC State diving in SwimSwam comments. New dive coach is either a commenter (eh StateGuy?) or maybe he is starting the journey toward something eventually good on the boards in Raleigh

enchantedrock
2 years ago

With their postgrads and incoming freshman, Cal should again get the most swim points. Texas diving is going to be much improved from last year. But I say we have no idea which team will prevail in March.

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  enchantedrock
2 years ago

I really doubt that

enchantedrock
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
2 years ago

Which thing do you doubt?

Swimmer
Reply to  enchantedrock
2 years ago

Cal swimming going for the four-peat.

Swimfan
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Cal has Only won one time in the last 7 years. 4 peat only done by Texas.

Doc says hi
Reply to  Swimfan
2 years ago

I must not understand your comment because texas is definitely not the only school to have four peated.

Swimfan
Reply to  Doc says hi
2 years ago

Meaning in recent years… since “swimmer” is referring to Cal’s recent streak of 2nd place finishes.

Swimmer
Reply to  Swimfan
2 years ago

How quickly you forget Cal came to Austin in 2019 and crushed the horns.

Enchantedrock
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Are you talking about Cal going for a 2nd place four-peat?

Swimmer
Reply to  Enchantedrock
2 years ago

Cal has out swam Texas the past four years. Texas diving has saved the day for the horns