2024-25 NCAA Males’s Energy Rankings: Pre-Invitations Version

As in earlier years, SwimSwam’s Energy Rankings are someplace between the CSCAA-style twin meet rankings and a pure prediction of NCAA end order. SwimSwam’s rankings consider how a workforce appears to be like in the intervening time, whereas holding the top of the season in thoughts via issues like a workforce’s earlier trajectory and NCAA scoring potential. These rankings are by nature subjective, and a jumping-off level for dialogue. For those who disagree with any workforce’s rating, be at liberty to make your case in our feedback part.

James Sutherland, Braden Keith, Spencer Penland, Robert Gibbs, Yanyan Li, and Anya Pelshaw contributed to this report.

Earlier Rankings: 

We’re again for the pre-invites version of the 2024-25 Males’s Energy Rankings. Whereas the ladies’s rankings had been largely establishment, particularly inside the highest six. In our final version, the writers had the NCAA title as a two-team race between Indiana and Cal however now after a lights-out October and including Chris Guiliano, the Texas Longhorns have thrown their hat within the ring. The Solar Devils are additionally on the rise, powered by Ilya Kharun and stronger relays than many anticipated earlier than the season started.

Like the ladies’s rankings although, this version of the rankings had extra groups nominated for a spot within the high 25, leading to six faculties incomes honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions: 

UNC Tar Heels, Harvard Crimson, Military Black Knights, Kentucky Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Georgia Tech Yellowjackets

UNC Tar Heels: Do twin meets matter? No, within the sense that UNC’s drubbing of UVA doesn’t neccessarily imply the Tar Heels are posed to complete forward of them come March. However, sure, within the sense that UNC’s fast occasions this fall, particularly that 1:17.18 200 free relay, bode properly. -RG

Kentucky Wildcats: The Kentucky distance crew appears to be like filthy, as Bret Lungaard is doing a pleasant job creating a gaggle of swimmers that had been principally recruited by his predecessor, when this system was identified extra for its distance group. -BK

Georgia Tech Yellowjackets: I’m making an attempt to not overreact right here, however Georgia Tech, with their diving coach apparently on observe to stay interim head coach for the season, is exhibiting some little sparks. Berke Saka is a reputation to know. -BK

#25: Pittsburgh Panthers -3 (Earlier Rank: 22)

To this point, the Pitt girls have proven greater than the boys. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless early within the season and the Panthers’ diving alone is powerful sufficient {that a} high 25 end isn’t out of the query. -SK

#24: Florida State Seminoles -5 (Earlier Rank: 19)

Tommaso Baravelli, Yordan Yanchev, and Max Wilson have been highlights for Florida State to date. -SK

#23: College of Pennsylvania Quakers — (Earlier Rank: 23)

The Ivy League season is simply choosing up in earnest. So for me, not a lot has modified about this Penn males’s workforce–Matt Fallon will rating for them and their freshman class is value keeping track of, notably the breaststrokers. -SK

#22: Alabama Crimson Tide -4 (Earlier Rank: 18)

Alabama slid down the rankings heading into invite season however for me, that’s extra a perform of how properly different groups have began the season than something Alabama is doing “flawed.” Most not too long ago they swept LSU and Florida State at residence, posting a workforce file (Leonardo Alcantara, 1000 free – 8:53.81) and a number of pool information. Together with their 200 freestyle duo (Charlie Hawke and Kaique Alves) and their switch sprinters (Kyle Micallef and Toni Dragoja) somebody to keep watch over is Tommy Hagar, who had a superb finish to his freshman season and appears to have maintained that momentum. -SK

#21: SMU Mustangs + (Earlier Rank: HM)

Jack Hoagland scored 41 factors individually at 2024 NCAAs. Whereas the Mustangs might not qualify relays this 12 months, 41 factors nonetheless would’ve earned twentieth place finally 12 months’s championships. -SK

#20: Minnesota Golden Gophers +1 (Earlier Rank: 21)

Minnesota has constructed some momentum thanks partially to an enormous win over Military as a part of Kyle Sockwell’s twin meet tour, which included a faculty file already. This workforce has the possibility to attain numerous factors within the distance occasions. -BK

#19: Purdue Boilermakers +1 (Earlier Rank: 20)

Purdue’s divers have been sturdy and may hold the Boilermakers on observe for one more high 25 end. However the swimmers are choosing up steam too: Brady Samuels simply cut up sub-19 on a relay cut up for the primary time in his profession and Pat Broderick swam the quickest 1000 freestyle by a Boilermaker in six years (9:05.95). -SK

#18: LSU Tigers +6 (Earlier Rank: 25)

LSU has been the shock of the early season to date, and so they made large headlines after their twin in opposition to Texas. It appears like Rick Bishop is de facto beginning to flip a nook with this program in his 4th season with the roster principally made up of his swimmers at this level. -BK

#17: USC Trojans — (Earlier Rank: 17)

Krzysztof and Michal Chmielewski have been sturdy for the Trojans via the primary two meets of the season. Like with the ladies, it’s laborious to attract numerous conclusions from an invitation and one twin meet and for USC, the most important check can be if they are often at their finest in the course of the postseason. -SK

#16: Ohio State Buckeyes -1 (Earlier Rank: 15)

Ohio State is 4-0 on the season, together with a one level win over Virginia Tech at a two-day meet. That was an enormous win for the Buckeyes and for me, the truth that they’ve slipped within the rating speaks to how sturdy Louisville has regarded out of the gate. -SK

#15: Louisville Cardinals +1 (Earlier Rank: 16)

The Cardinals are doing rather a lot, particularly in relays, with a roster that doesn’t scare anybody on paper. A legendary scored NCAA Championship meet based mostly on season finest occasions to date would have them fifth at NCAAs. -BK

#14: Michigan Wolverines — (Earlier Rank: 14)

Like a number of of the opposite groups, we actually want to attend for the mid-season invitations to see what Michigan has. That being stated, there’s nonetheless no cause to doubt that this Michigan workforce is healthier than final 12 months’s. Jon Jontvedt is a reputation to keep watch over because the season progresses. -SP

Michigan solely has one man below 20 seconds within the 50 free to date this season (Bence Szabados). It’s early, however the Wolverines have some work to do. -BK

#13: Virginia Cavaliers -2 (Earlier Rank: 11)

Do twin meets matter? Half Two. Given the historic rivalry between the 2 faculties, UVA couldn’t have been happy with the massive loss to UNC. However there have been not less than two silver linings: first, the Cavaliers had been lacking each of their returning NCAA scorers from final 12 months; second, there have been some lifetime bests and faster occasions than finally 12 months’s fall invite or ACCs. -RG

#12: Auburn Tigers — (Earlier Rank: 12)

Kalle Makinen has regarded good via the primary six weeks of the season, a superb signal not just for him, however for the Tigers relays. Although to problem the groups forward of them, Auburn will want extra particular person scorers; their mid-season invite must be good observe for them at grabbing finals lanes. -SK

#11: Texas A&M Aggies +1 (Earlier Rank: 12)

The Aggies haven’t proven a lot below the brand new regime of Blaire Anderson, however she appears to have gotten some slack from a gaggle that wasn’t thrilled about the way in which the college dealt with the transition. This can be a squad that has constructed up a stockpile of expertise, so keep watch over them for mid-season. -BK

#10: Stanford Cardinal -2 (Earlier Rank: 8)

Stanford misplaced to each ASU and Cal finally weekend’s tri-meet. However there have been positives for the Cardinal, their freshman diver carried out properly and Liam Custer dropped a PB within the 1000 freestyle to maneuver as much as #2 at school historical past. Stanford had a pair sturdy recruiting courses during the last couple seasons however had bother activating them as soon as they arrived on campus. If Custer–and others–can get going, that will be big for Stanford. -SK

#9: Georgia Bulldogs +1 (Earlier Rank: 10)

As of but this season, Georgia’s dash free appears to be like like there’s room for enchancment, nevertheless, they do have a pleasant group of 200 freestylers and 500 freestylers. Luca Urlando is already placing up nice occasions and appears to be the chief of this workforce. -SP

#8: Virginia Tech Hokies +1 (Earlier Rank: 9)

The Hokies have regarded sizzling early within the season with a various roster. Sophomore Brendan Whitfield is coming into his personal as one of many high sprinters within the nation, constructing off an incredible freshman season, and that’s serving to lead Virginia Tech to some quick early relays. -BK

Youssef Ramadan is off to an excellent begin this season. The Hokies have a pleasant group of dash freestylers, which implies their relays must be nice as properly. Carles Coll Marti has already put up sturdy performances within the breaststrokes and 200 IM as properly. -SP

#7: Tennessee Volunteers -1 (Earlier Rank: 6)

Jordan Crooks and Gui Caribe are each off to essentially good begins for the Vols. Nikoli Blackman appears to be like like he’s going to be an enormous issue for the workforce this season. -SP

#6: NC State Wolfpack -1 (Earlier Rank: 5)

The Wolfpack has been spectacular to date this fall. Quintin McCarty has already been below 19 within the 50 free, whereas Jerry Fox and Kaii Winkler appear like they’ll be a power to be reckoned with within the 100 free and 200 free. -SP

#5: Arizona State Solar Devils +2 (Earlier Rank: 7)

The Herbie Behm period goes swimmingly at Arizona State. I don’t assume they’re deep sufficient to win, however they’re going to be higher than we thought coming into this. -BK

Arizona State is swimming in addition to ever. The one factor holding this workforce again is the variety of swimmers from final 12 months’s workforce that they misplaced. Nonetheless, we are able to anticipate the Solar Devils to be proper close to the highest on the finish of the season. -SP

#4: Florida Gators — (Earlier Rank: 4)

Florida has a lot going for them this season. Josh Liendo appears to be like nice, Jonny Marshall and Scotty Buff are a heck of a backstroke duo, and Mason Laur is having a superb begin to the season. -SP

#3: California Golden Bears -1 (Earlier Rank: 2)

Cal is within the place the place we haven’t seen them race a lot but this season, however we’ll study rather a lot about them on the mid-season invite. In the intervening time, there’s a lot to like about this Cal roster. Nans Mazellier has been an incredible addition. -SP (Ranked Cal #2)

#2: Texas Longhorns +1 (Earlier Rank: 3)

A primetime win over Indiana is an enormous confidence booster for Texas (although to be honest, it feels just like the swimmers there had no downside totally shopping for in to what Bob Bowman was doing) -BK (Ranked Texas #2)

Texas is wanting unbelievable meet after meet. The late addition of Chris Giuliano is unquestionably an enormous achieve for this workforce, nevertheless, they’re nonetheless going to want extra guys to step up within the dash occasions. -SP (Ranked Texas #3)

#1: Indiana Hoosiers — (Earlier Rank: 1)

Indiana has such a superb roster this season, particularly after we take diving under consideration. Despite the fact that they missed out on Chris Giuliano, they’ll be laborious to beat. -SP (Ranked Indiana #1)

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