Editor’s note: the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA)’s rankings track dual meet strength, specifically. That is, a higher-ranked team is expected to win in a head-to-head dual meet with a lower-ranked team, according to the voters. These rankings aren’t an NCAA finish prediction – for a ranking closer to that model, check out SwimSwam’s Power Rankings.
The California women jump into the top spot, while the Texas men maintain their season-long spot at #1, according to the latest CSCAA dual meet polls.
The Texas men have led every poll this season, marking nine straight appearances at #1. The last time the Longhorn men weren’t ranked #1 was in October of 2019, when they sat second to California. The California men continued to hold steady at #2.
This is the first #1 ranking for the California women this season. The Texas women had led the last two polls.
Up until this month, the polls had stayed relatively stable, but with an increase in competition among Big Ten and Pac-12 teams, there were some pretty dramatic changes in ranking, including the Northwestern women leaping from 22nd to 7th. The Wildcats have been hot over the last few weeks, going undefeated against Iowa, Penn State, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
The rankings stayed much more stable on the men’s side, as the majority of teams were within a spot of two of where they were ranked last month.
Biggest Risers
- Northwestern women (+15)
- North Carolina women (+11)
- Kentucky women (+7)
- Wisconsin women (NR to 17)
- UCLA women (NR to 19)
- Wisconsin men (NR to 19)
Biggest Fallers
- Indiana women (-9)
- Texas women (-7)
- NC State women (-5)
Division I Women
| Rk | Prv | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | California | 362 |
| 2 | 2 | Virginia | 350 |
| 3 | 10 | Kentucky | 321 |
| 4 | 8 | Florida | 314 |
| 5 | 4 | Tennessee | 306 |
| 6 | 3 | Georgia | 304 |
| 7 | 22 | Northwestern | 288 |
| 8 | 1 | Texas | 259 |
| 9 | 5 | Michigan | 247 |
| 10 | 9 | Stanford | 240 |
| 11 | 6 | NC State | 221 |
| 12 | 19 | Louisville | 217 |
| 13 | 24 | North Carolina | 209 |
| 14 | 18 | Notre Dame | 168 |
| 15 | 16 | Virginia Tech | 145 |
| 16 | 11 | Alabama | 137 |
| 17 | NR | Wisconsin | 129 |
| 17 | 13 | Texas A&M | 129 |
| 19 | NR | UCLA | 105 |
| 20 | 20 | Arkansas | 85 |
| 21 | 12 | Indiana | 78 |
| 22 | NR | Minnesota | 59 |
| 23 | 14 | Ohio State | 58 |
| 24 | NR | Duke | 41 |
| 25 | 23 | Auburn | 39 |
| 25 | 15 | Missouri | 39 |
Also Receiving Votes
Florida State (14), Houston (13), Buffalo (10), Akron (9), Penn State (9), Southern California (6), Navy (1)
Women’s Poll Committee
Dan Colella, Duke; Niko Fantakis, Brown; Chris Hansen, CSU Bakersfield; Naya Higashijima (Chair), Southern Methodist; Lars Jorgensen, Kentucky; Nathan Lavery, Drexel; Matthew Leach, Washington State; Sergio Lopez, Virginia Tech; Jonathan Maccoll, Rutgers; Jesse Moore, Minnesota; Jeff Poppell, Florida; Jos Smith, Utah; Braden Keith, SwimSwam; Andy Ross, Swimming World.
Division I Men
| Rk | Prv | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Texas | 325 |
| 2 | 3 | California | 312 |
| 3 | 4 | Texas A&M | 291 |
| 4 | 2 | Georgia | 287 |
| 5 | 6 | NC State | 267 |
| 5 | 5 | Florida | 267 |
| 7 | 8 | Louisville | 249 |
| 8 | 7 | Indiana | 235 |
| 9 | 11 | Missouri | 200 |
| 10 | 10 | Virginia | 198 |
| 11 | 13 | Tennessee | 191 |
| 11 | 9 | Michigan | 191 |
| 13 | 14 | Virginia Tech | 170 |
| 14 | 11 | Stanford | 166 |
| 15 | 15 | Florida State | 131 |
| 16 | 16 | Alabama | 105 |
| 17 | 18 | Notre Dame | 101 |
| 18 | 20 | North Carolina | 99 |
| 19 | NR | Wisconsin | 90 |
| 20 | NR | Northwestern | 86 |
| 21 | 17 | Ohio State | 69 |
| 22 | 19 | Georgia Tech | 63 |
| 23 | 23 | Auburn | 43 |
| 24 | 21 | Arizona | 42 |
| 25 | 22 | Pittsburgh | 26 |
Also Receiving Votes
Purdue (10), Southern Methodist (5), Southern California (3), Minnesota (2), UNLV (1)
Men’s Poll Committee
Steve Barnes, Penn State; Chase Bloch, Southern California; Jason Calanog, Texas A&M; Matt Crispino, Princeton; Daniel Dozier, West Virginia; Matt Gianiodis, Michigan State; John Hargis, Pittsburgh; Craig Nisgor, Seattle; Bill Roberts (Chair), Navy; Rachel Stratton Mills, Arizona State; Neal Studd, Florida State; Braden Keith, SwimSwam; Andy Ross, Swimming World.
wpDiscuz
How did Texas fall so far?
I’m wondering the same thing.
I actually moved them up, from 4th to 3rd, on my ballot.
It is curious. But I was curious why Texas women were ranked 1 anyway.
I get Cal jumping up but a lot of that women’s rankings makes zero sense.
NC state takes #1 VA down to the last relay and they drop 11 places. Who’s on crack?
Double dq in the 1000 in that meet, nc state was home and had more swims, and i believe although I may be wrong that uva swam unc the day before.
Yeah and VA diving is light years ahead. So there’s always an excuse.
Correct
It just comes down to you can’t trust the polls?
I was never strong at math, but am I missing something here? (Guerra, please chime in…) Indiana women dropped nine spots, but they’re not listed as the Biggest Fallers, while Texas (-7) and NC State (-5) are??
Strange. Michigan women beat Northwestern easily in one of only two dual meets Michigan swam yet Northwestern is ranked a lot higher. I also think Indiana beat Northwestern.
Indiana at 8??? This has to be a joke!! IU is clearly the best team in the nation, and arguably the world. The Hoosiers will win NCAAs in a landslide like we have never seen in the history of college swimming!!! Go Hoosiers!!
These downvoters don’t understand sarcasm
Finally someone other than me speaking some facts! Can’t wait to see goat coach looze clean up at NC’s.
Totally nuts! Kentucky #3? NW #7?, each ranked above Texas, Stanford, Michigan and NC State? NC State went to the last relay with #2 Virginia, and didn’t lose all year other than that. Buffalo and Akron getting 9pt and 10pt votes? Is this April Fools early?
Riley Gaines and friends is that good.
I agree Riley Gaines and friends are good but they’re not good enough for 3rd. I wouldn’t even say they’re third in their own conference
The Kentucky ranking isn’t right….
To be honest, the only poll I put any value in is the swimswam power rankings
Swimcloud rankings are way closer to reality. Cscaa is worse than a Brietfart or Puffpost political poll! 🇺🇸