Defending Champion Rice tops 2026 American Preseason Poll
9/24/2025 1:33:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
Irving – Defending American champion Rice has been named the favorite in the 2026 American Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll, as selected by the league's head coaches.
Rice earned 59 points, including five first-place votes. Liberty was picked second with 57 points, followed by FIU (54), Tulane (35), James Madison (34), East Carolina and Marshall (28), Florida Atlantic (15) and North Texas (14).
Rice took home the 2025 American Championship after their addition of dive to the team.
"It is always fun to have a target on your back," head coach Seth Huston said. "We look forward to competing in the pool this upcoming season. I wish all the American swimming and diving programs the best this season."
Rice opens its season Sept. 26 at the Seminole Fall Classic in Tallahassee, Florida.
The 2026 American Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championship is scheduled for Feb. 18–21 at the Greensboro Aquatics Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
2025-2026 American Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches Poll
Rice earned 59 points, including five first-place votes. Liberty was picked second with 57 points, followed by FIU (54), Tulane (35), James Madison (34), East Carolina and Marshall (28), Florida Atlantic (15) and North Texas (14).
Rice took home the 2025 American Championship after their addition of dive to the team.
"It is always fun to have a target on your back," head coach Seth Huston said. "We look forward to competing in the pool this upcoming season. I wish all the American swimming and diving programs the best this season."
Rice opens its season Sept. 26 at the Seminole Fall Classic in Tallahassee, Florida.
The 2026 American Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championship is scheduled for Feb. 18–21 at the Greensboro Aquatics Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
2025-2026 American Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1 | Rice (5) | 59 |
| 2 | Liberty (2) | 57 |
| 3 | FIU (2) | 54 |
| 4 | Tulane | 35 |
| 5 | James Madison | 34 |
| 6 | East Carolina | 28 |
| Marshall | 28 | |
| 8 | Florida Atlantic | 15 |
| 9 | North Texas | 14 |
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