SwimSwam Pulse: 66.8% Think Chris Guiliano Makes Texas NCAA Favorites

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 if the addition of Chris Guiliano makes the Texas men favorites for NCAAs this March:

Question: Does adding Chris Guiliano put the Texas men over the top for the 2025 NCAA title?

RESULTS

  • Yes – they’re now favorites – 66.8%
  • No – better teams out there – 19.2%
  • They were already winning – 14.0%

After their lowest finish in nearly two decades last season, the Texas men’s team has been revitalized since Bob Bowman took over as head coach, with several key additions headlined by Olympic champion Hubert Kos, U.S. Olympian Aaron Shackell and former #1 ranked recruit Rex Maurer.

Those changes immediately made the Longhorns national title contenders in 2025 in the minds of many, with them topping our poll asking readers who they’re picking to win the Men’s NCAA Championship just over two months ago.

Although Texas led the poll, it was very close with Cal within 1% behind them and Indiana also in the thick of things.

However, since then, two elite names have announced they’re joining the Longhorns later this season: Polish backstroker Ksawery Masiuk, and then recently, Olympic gold medalist Chris Guiliano.

Masiuk is a top-tier addition who could be a scorer in the backstroke events, but Guiliano has a proven track record in the NCAA and is truly a game-changing addition that could put Texas over the top.

He scored 45 individual points last season for Notre Dame, and was a key contributor on the relays, splitting as fast as 17.94 in the 50 free (200 free relay), 40.43 in the 100 free (400 medley relay), and leading off the 800 free relay in a 200 free PB of 1:30.36.

When Guiliano made the announcement that he was headed to Texas—which came due to the Notre Dame men’s swim program being suspended for the season—the conversation immediately turned to what this means for Texas’s NCAA title prospects, so we took it to the SwimSwam Poll.

In a lopsided result, just over a third of voters, 66.8%, believe the addition of Guiliano makes them championship favorites after they previously weren’t. An additional 14% already had Texas as frontrunners, meaning more than 80% of readers are picking the Longhorns to regain the title in 2025.

The remaining 19.2% of readers are picking the field, with Indiana seemingly the leading candidate outside of Texas to win. The Hoosiers have a strong group of swimmers, including ASU transfers Owen McDonald and Zalan Sarkany, coupled with an elite diving group.

In our recent edition of the NCAA Power Rankings, Indiana retained the top spot, with Texas moving up to #2 after receiving two first-place votes (compared to four for Indiana and one for Cal).

Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Pollwhich asks: Which invitational will produce the most NCAA-leading times?

Which midseason invite will produce the most nation-leading times?

View Results

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ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE

A3 Performance is an independently-owned, performance swimwear company built on a passion for swimming, athletes, and athletic performance. We encourage swimmers to swim better and faster at all ages and levels, from beginners to Olympians.  Driven by a genuine leader and devoted staff that are passionate about swimming and service, A3 Performance strives to inspire and enrich the sport of swimming with innovative and impactful products that motivate swimmers to be their very best – an A3 Performer.

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

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Andrew
17 days ago

The mercenary approach Bowman is employing may get temporary quick positive results, but it doesn’t beat the longstanding culture of homegrown excellence Eddie built during his career

Curious how Texas fans feel about this

Admin
Reply to  Andrew
17 days ago

This is the new world. In some respects, it’s the world that Texas created and demanded, generally speaking. As long as they have the deepest pockets, they’ll continue to succeed.

‘Homegrown’ is kind of a fairytale. The only way it collapses is if alums say “nah we don’t want to win this way we’re going to stop donating” – and as long as they’re winning, I don’t think that happens at any large scale.

JeahBrah
Reply to  Andrew
17 days ago

I’m a Texas fan who spent the last few years wishing Eddie brought in more mercenaries to plug obvious holes in the roster

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  JeahBrah
17 days ago

^^^

Poolside Fan
17 days ago

New poolside videos are up 😆

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
17 days ago

Nope!

Chris needs to sit out an entire NCAA Season just like everyone else. No exceptions!

Samuel Huntington
Reply to  Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
17 days ago

Huh? Transfers don’t have to sit out a season these days.

RealCrocker5040
Reply to  Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
17 days ago

Relay Names Guy is to Texas as Andrew is to cal

Chlorinated One
17 days ago

Make$ Texa$ the favorite$

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
Reply to  Chlorinated One
17 days ago

Bob “Benedict Arnold” Bowman

swim fan
18 days ago

Since he entered the transfer portal outside of the window, I would guess that he needs a waiver to compete this season. Is it known that he already has that waiver or that he has a high likelihood of receiving it? The NCAA recently made it harder to get those waivers, but I don’t think they foresaw a school suspending a whole team. (The NCAA not foreseeing something? Crazy, I know.)

IU Swammer
Reply to  swim fan
17 days ago

I think SwimSwam looked into this and said he would be eligible for a waiver because he was not implicated in the conduct that led to the suspension.

bobthebuilderrocks
18 days ago

The people have spoken!

I’m curious to see who the third guy joining in January 2025 will be

Last edited 18 days ago by bobthebuilderrocks
Wethorn
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
17 days ago

You will be gruntled.

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Wethorn
17 days ago

I like the sound of that. Got a hint? It’s a breaststroker, right?

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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