Indiana, Florida, Arizona State Seeking Improved National Standing in 2026
Order was restored at last season’s NCAA Men’s Championships as Texas took the win and Cal claimed second, the 12th time since 2010 that those two teams have occupied the top-two spots in the standings. But Indiana was not far away and still has many strong performers on its roster while Florida and Arizona State both got better in the offseason. Which of these teams is the biggest threat to move up and challenge for the top spot?
Indiana University
Indiana finished third at the NCAA Championships last season but only 31 points behind first-place Texas. Maintaining that level of performance, however, could be tough following some key departures, including all five Hoosier men that scored in at least one breaststroke event at last season’s NCAA Championships (Brian Benzing, Finn Brooks, Caspar Corbeau, Josh Matheny and 200-yard NCAA champion Jassen Yep). Reliable names like Rafael Miroslaw and Tomer Frankel have also exhausted their eligibility, as did star divers Quentin Henninger and Carson Tyler.
The Hoosiers do return some big names, led by distance star Zalan Sarkany aiming for a third consecutive NCAA title in the 1650 freestyle. Sarkany won his first title with Arizona State in 2024 and his second after joining head coach Ray Looze and co. last season. Owen McDonald, who also joined the team last season following his run with the Sun Devils, will contend in the backstroke events and 200 IM while sprint freestyler Matt King is in his last college season. Diver Maxwell Weinrich and backstrokers Miroslav Knedla and Kai Van Westering will be called upon for bigger roles this year.
For the longer freestyle events, Indiana adds U.S. Olympians Aaron Shackell and Luke Whitlock as transfers. Notably, both will be aiming for their first college championship seasons after departing from their previous schools at midseason. Also new to the team is Josh Bey, who will look to carry on Indiana’s breaststroke tradition after finishing fifth in the 200-meter race at U.S. Nationals.
University of Florida
Josh Liendo Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Florida was the clear fourth-best team last season, with the team’s medley relays standing out in particular. The Gators touched first in both events at the NCAA Championships, although they were disqualified for an early takeoff in the 200 medley relay. This season is the last in college for the team’s star sprinter Josh Liendo, who has captured six individual NCAA titles in his career. With longtime rival Jordan Crooks now graduated, Liendo is the clear favorite to complete the four-peat of titles in the 100 free while adding a third 100 fly crown and second win in the 50 free.
Julian Smith is gone following a spectacular senior season in which he emerged as the country’s top 100 breaststroker, and Jake Mitchell, a 2021 U.S. Olympian in the 400-meter free, has also finished out his eligibility. But the group coming back includes backstroke star Jonny Marshall, who finished second in the 100 back and fifth in the 200 last season, plus sprint butterfly and backstroke specialist Scotty Buff, diver Conor Geser, the versatile Gio Linscheer, freestyler Alex Painter and breaststroker Aleksas Savickas. Those five were all NCAA scorers in 2025, with Linscheer getting points in all three of his individual events. Painter and Savickas will have larger relay roles this season, with Savickas taking over for Smith as the medley relay breaststroker.
Finally, the next stop for Ahmed Jaouadi is Gainesville. Fresh off a pair of scintillating World Championships golds in the 800 and 1500-meter free in Singapore, Jaouadi chose to begin his college career with the Gators. He might not bring the scoring impact of Liendo since he will not contest relays (except perhaps the 800 free relay), but he becomes an immediate national-title favorite in the 500 and 1650-yard free.
Arizona State University
Ilya Kharun — Photo Courtesy: Scott Grant/Swimming Canada
Arizona State had to do some rebuilding last year after many big names left with former head coach Bob Bowman following the 2024 NCAA team title. But under new head man Herbie Behm, the team still won a conference title in its inaugural Big-12 season and placed sixth at the NCAA Championships. A return to the top-five is likely this season, Patrick Sammon was the team’s only high-profile departure while the Sun Devils still have the dynamic duo of Ilya Kharun and Jonny Kulow.
Kharun finished top-four in the 50 free plus both butterfly events at last season’s NCAA Championships, and he returned to the global-level podium in July with a World Championships bronze in the 100-meter fly. He is already off to a huge start this season, having scorched in the butterfly races and relays in ASU’s opening meet against UNLV. Kulow was an A-finalist in the 50 and 100 free at the NCAA level, and he finally reached international waters this summer, anchoring the American men to bronze in the 400 free relay at Worlds.
Add in veteran breaststroker Andy Dobrzanski, a B-finalist in the 100-yard event at last year’s NCAAs, and sprint backstroke standout Adam Chaney, returning to college swimming following a one-year hiatus, and both medley relays are national-title threats. Jordan Tiffany, a transfer from BYU, has captured Big-12 titles in the 100 fly. ASU might not have many individual scorers at the national level, but the sprint freestyle relays should also be in great shape. Remi Fabiani, a transfer from Cal Baptist, should be a big addition alongside Tommy Palmer, Quin Seider and Filip Senc–Samardzic.
$120/hr provide by GOOGLE, I am making a good salary from home $6580-$7064/week , which is amazing, under a year ago I was jobless in a horrible economy. I thank God every day I was blessed with these instructions and now it’s my duty to pay it forward and share it with Everyone, .
Here is I started______________________ Www.Cash43.Com