By Mark Wild on SwimSwam
2026 NCAA Division I Males’s Swimming and Diving Championships
Dates: Wednesday, March 25–Saturday, March 28
Location: McAuley Aquatic Middle, Atlanta, GA
Defending Champions: Texas (1x)
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Males’s 200 Medley Relay — By The NumbersÂ
NCAA File: 1:20.03 – Florida (Marshall, de Groot, Buff, Liendo), 2026
Championship File: 1:20.15 – Florida (Chaney, Smith, Liendo, McDuff), 2024
American File: 1:20.92 – Indiana (Barr, Benzing, Brooks, King), 2025
U.S. Open File: 1:20.03 – Florida (Marshall, de Groot, Buff, Liendo), 2026
Defending Champion: Texas (Modglin, Germonprez, Kos, Guiliano) – 1:20.28
Final yr, in writing the previews for the 200 and 400 medley relays, I opted to make use of a Recreation of Thrones theme to the article title and part headings, and properly, the 200 medley relay lived as much as the chaos of the sequence.
We picked Tennessee to win the occasion, as they had been simply .07 off the NCAA report and appeared to be firing on all cylinders, as they beat the report holders at SECs. Nevertheless, Florida pulled out that UNO reverse card, and when anchor Scotty Buff hit the wall, their outdated report was no extra because the quarter of Johnny Marshall, Julian Smith, Josh Liendo, and Buff had undercut it by .10 to set a brand new report of 1:20.05. Nevertheless, Buff was a little bit too keen and his -.06 response time precipitated Florida to be DQed, giving the win to not Tennessee, however to Texas, who dropped almost half as second from their seed, setting a brand new faculty report of 1:20.28, within the means of claiming the primary relay win of the meet and setting them as much as win their Sixteenth NCAA Championship.
This season, Texas is close to the highest of the pack once more and would like to have a repeat from final yr, however Florida is again (and higher than ever) and seeking to proper the wrongs from final season.
“Intergalactic”
Florida’s roster at first of the season and mid-season didn’t lend itself to a perception in a excessive end on this occasion. Whereas they retained three-quarters of the relay from final season, they misplaced Julian Smith, who break up an eye-popping, out-of-this-world 22.14 50 breaststroke on that DQed relay. His loss confirmed because the Gators had been simply 1:23.64 on the UGA Fall Invitational (albeit with out star Josh Liendo) and utilizing Aleksas Savickas on breaststroke, with a 23.87 break up.
Nevertheless, Florida simply appeared to be locked right into a holding sample as they awaited the arrival of Dutch nationwide report holder Koen de Groot, who introduced he would be a part of Florida within the spring semester. He took a little bit getting used to yards, splitting 24.68 in his first meet, however then every week later was 23.26, and a month later he went 22.61 to assist the Gators win the occasion at SECs.
His contributions, whereas a significant component to the victory, weren’t the principle speaking level as Liendo dropped a hammer of a final 50, splitting 17.58 on the final 50 to assist the Gators set a brand new NCAA, SEC, and U.S. Open report of 1:20.03. Liendo, who prior to now has flipped backwards and forwards between the fly and free, seems to have settled into the anchor leg, which fits junior Scotty Buff, who was 19.32 at SECs, the lone swimmer beneath 19.50. Whereas not as quick as Adam Chaney on the backstroke leg (extra on him later), Marshall’s 20.52 led off leg at SEC was a brand new private greatest, and with Marshall our decide to complete third total within the 100 again, he might be a 50 time a lot nearer to Chaney’s 20.29
Former NCAA File – Florida, 2024
2025 NCAA Swim (DQ)
New NCAA File– Florida, 2026
Again
Adam Chaney – 20.29
Jonny Marshall – 20.59
Jonny Marshall – 20.52
Breast
Julian Smith – 22.55
Julian Smith – 22.14
Koen de Groot – 22.61
Fly
Josh Liendo – 18.97
 Josh Liendo – 19.08
Scotty Buff – 19.32
Free
Macguire McDuff – 18.34
Scotty Buff – 18.58
Josh Liendo – 17.58
1:20.15
1:20.05
1:20.03
A slightly worldwide staff, with de Groot hailing from The Netherlands, Liendo from Canada and with Marshall representing Nice Britain internationally, the Gators aren’t eligible to set the American report, however primarily based on how they swam at SECs, Florida is the odds-on favourite to be the primary staff beneath the 1:20 barrier, nevertheless with a DQ final yr and a DQ within the 400 medley in 2024, nothing is for positive.
“Make Some Noise”
Will Modglin (picture: Jack Spitser)
The shock defending champions, Texas, return all however one leg, however it’s a key leg as anchor Chris Guiliano has exhausted his NCAA eligibility. The Olympian was 17.80 on the relay final yr at NCAAs, and with no Longhorn ranked within the high 20, they are going to should be out quick in an effort to give Garrett Gould (twenty fourth seed within the 50 free -18.89) any likelihood to remain forward of Liendo and others.
Gould, a sophomore, was 18.52 on the relay at SECs, however giving up almost a second to Liendo is an excessive amount of for the robust entrance half to beat. Will Modglin, the highest seed within the 100 again, returns to the entrance of the relay and has solely improved upon his outcomes from final yr. The Junior led off the 2025 NCAA relay in 20.32 earlier than handing issues over to Nate Germonprez, who was 22.83. This yr, the pair has improved drastically, splitting 20.17 and 22.49 at SECS to carry a close to half-second lead over the Gators. Modglin’s time could be much more celebrated had he not gone supersonically quick on the Texas Corridor of Fame Invitational. In November, Modglin turned the quickest in historical past, opening up the relay in 20.00, simply the third sub-20.15 break up ever.
Nevertheless, the Longhorns don’t carry over that pace to the again half. As soon as the calling card of Texas, the Bob Bowman-led program lacks a real dash flier, and can name upon backstroker and IM star Hubert Kos to as soon as once more fill. In 2025 at NCAAs, he was 19.33 however was a little bit off on the 2026 SECs, splitting 19.67. His time mixed with Gould definitely can preserve Texas within the combine, and like on the SECs, they could lead on the 150-yard mark, however with out that firepower on the top, the Longhorns goals of a repeat occasion win usually tend to exit with a whimper than with a bang.
courtesy of Chris Pose
Actually, setting off a bang and turning heads in the course of the season had been the ASU Solar Devils. Chaney, now at ASU, together with Andy Dobrzanski, Ilya Kharun, and Jonny Kulow, went 1:20.56 on the CSCAA Twin Problem. Chaney opened in 20.56, a little bit off his time from the then NCAA report, with Dobrzanski following him in 23.12. If swum subsequent to Texas at SECs, ASU would have been again by a full second, however Khraun, the quickest on the planet over the 50, went 18.72 on the fly leg earlier than handing issues over to the anchor leg, Jonny Kulow, who introduced it dwelling in 18.16.
At Large XIIs, the Solar Devils had been a little bit slower. Chaney was a little bit sooner, going 20.45, whereas Dobrzanski was a shade slower, splitting 23.20. Nevertheless, Kharun and Tommy Palmer, who substituted in for Kulow, had been 18.89 and 18.42, respectively, and the Solar Devils stopped the clock at 1:20.96, a time that also would have been quick sufficient to be the third seeds, however nonetheless .40 off their season greatest.
Palmer’s inclusion within the relay isn’t particular. Kulow will possible be tapped to swim the staff’s 800 free relay afterward within the session, however might pull the double, as he possible received’t be the anchor on the 400 medley, and can have one free relay to swim on. If he does swim on the relay, he anchored this relay final yr in 17.78, then ASU might be becoming a member of Florida beneath the 1:20 barrier, however they are going to want each Chaney and Dobrzanski to be on level, as Florida is robust all over the place, and Texas’s entrance half could also be an excessive amount of to swim over.
“Struggle For Your Proper”
After the highest three, all of whom are seeded beneath 1:21, the subsequent 5, and the final groups to earn a swim at evening are all seeded throughout the 1:21 to 1:22 vary. Whereas the distinction between Texas at third (1:20.85) and LSU at 4th (1:21.23) is lower than that between LSU and California (Fifth – 1:21.63), we’ve grouped LSU on this second tier, as a result of they’re a little bit of an unknown.
Jere Hribar (picture: Jack Spitser)
The LSU Tigers entered the meet final yr seeded with a 1:23.05 however added over half a second to complete seventeenth with a time of 1:23.66, and with dropping their two center legs, LSU appeared to be in some scorching water. All of that was rapidly put to relaxation at mid-season when the Tigers beat Florida, ending third on the UGA Fall Invite in a time of 1:22.42, and mid-season, chopped one other full second off that point, to hit the clock at 1:21.23. Volodomyr Lisovets offered a powerful 22.65 break up on the breaststroke leg, and Jere Hribar almost out-split Josh Liendo, going 17.59 to single-handedly convey LSU from being tied at 4th to a bronze medal and a margin of separation of over .50 to 4th-place Kentucky.
Kentucky, ranked sixth, was equal with LSU, however closed in 18.16, which received’t minimize it when going up in opposition to the likes of Liendo. That mentioned, they did lead each LSU and Florida after the backstroke, as first-year Lysander Osman dropped a blistering 20.21. Nevertheless, as quick as that was, their final three legs simply can’t help the early pace, and Kentucky fell to 4th at SECs and can be beneath strain to remain within the high 8.
They aren’t the lone staff within the high 8 to be beneath risk. California is seeded Fifth with a time of 1:21.63, however solely just lately achieved that point at their final likelihood meet. At ACCs, the Bears completed 2nd behind FSU with a time of 1:22.39. Nevertheless, every week later and maybe with a little bit extra relaxation, the quartet of Evan Petty (20.65), Luca Pusateri Gissendander (22.81), Lucca Battaglini (19.84), and Martin Wrede (18.33) minimize .76 off their earlier season greatest. From the ACC roster, solely Petty remained the identical, with Battaglini sliding to the fly leg and Pusateri Gissendander swapping in for Okadome on the breaststroke leg (22.69 at ACCs). With Okadome having the sooner break up, the Japanese star could sub again in, however with a lot motion, it’s laborious to see what Cal can do.
Rounding out the highest 8 are Large Ten Rivals, Indiana and Michigan. Indiana completed Fifth final yr with an American report time of 1:20.92, however has misplaced the whole lot of the relay and is beginning recent with a complete new squad. They completed runner-up to Michigan at Large Tens, going 1:22.09, however had been truly sooner at mid-season, the place the identical quartet went 1:21.99, with a powerful again leg of 20.66 from Miroslav Knedla to kick issues off. However very similar to Kentucky, their weak point on the final 50 (18.66 at mid-season and 18.58 at ACCs) doesn’t lend itself to confidence in holding a lead.
Entered with an equal 1:21.99 however listed eighth and sure a lot to the chagrin of their followers to be positioned behind Indiana are the Wolverines of Michigan. Michigan powered its method to the Large Ten title with a powerful swim from Tyler Ray, with the senior splitting 19.27 on the fly leg. Final yr, Ray break up 19.62, however the relay was in the end disqualified attributable to an early takeoff. First-year, Luka Mladenovic is the Fifth seed within the 100 breast, and break up 22.72 on the relay at conferences, however he’ll should be nearer to the occasions of Germonprez and de Groot, if Michigan hopes to enhance upon their seeding.
“Sabotage”
Georgia leads a pack of 9 faculties, seeded with a time within the 1:22 vary, and an additional two are seeded inside a second of UGA’s 1:22.18. With so many colleges tightly packed, and near Indiana and Michigan’s seed of 1:21.99, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a number of of them bounce into the highest 8 when the ultimate warmth swims at evening. Whereas these groups lose the gang and hype of swimming at evening, their swimmers do get the good thing about some additional relaxation, notably as their breaststrokers and butterfliers have the 100 the subsequent day.
Quintin McCarty (picture: Jack Spitser)
The Bulldogs are the ninth seed however are deeply harm by the lack of Luca Urlando and sure received’t recuperate from it to combat for a high 8 spot. Proper behind them are the ACC champs, Florida State, who can be seeking to upset ACC rivals California, who jumped forward of them at a Final Probability meet. FSU completed seventh final yr, thanks in huge half to Mason Herbet‘s 20.59 backstroke break up and Michel Arkhangelskiy‘s 19.26 fly break up. Herbert was a Fifth-year, however his spot has been crammed by Max Wilson, who was 20.64 at ACCs. Arkhangelskiy produced a powerful 19.41 on the fly, with the staff stopping the clock at 1:22.28. The quartet was .05 sooner at mid-season, with Arkhangelskiy going 19.26, so FSU might discover themselves again within the 1:21 vary.
NC State lurks dangerously because the fifteenth seed and can be smarting at being seeded so low after ending sixth final yr in a time of 1:21.16. Their seed time of 1:22.80 is of their very own doing, because the Wolfpack was certainly one of three groups DQed at ACCs. If that they had not been, their time of 1:21.93 would have put them proper into the highest 8, however now they need to combat within the third quickest warmth to place up a time worthy of scoring A-final factors. Quintin McCarty is a powerful lead-off for NC State, however they are going to need assistance on the breaststroke in the event that they want to bump various groups out of the way in which to get again to a podium end.
Tennessee completed 2nd final yr, after getting into because the favorites, however have misplaced three of their legs from final yr, together with the 17.67 anchor leg of Jordan Crooks. Gui Caribe stays a powerful leg on the fly, however with a backstroke leg of 21.08 at SECs and a breaststroke break up of 23.23, Tennessee entrance half may be an excessive amount of for Caribe to beat with out Crooks’s dependable anchor leg. Nikoli Blackman has tried to fill his sneakers however 18.58 at SECs depart the Volunteers possible exterior of the highest 8.
The Verdict
IF ASU is firing on all cylinders, they will definitely win this relay.
IF Texas is firing on all cylinders, they will definitely win this relay.
However Florida can nonetheless be a little bit off from the place they’ve been and nonetheless win this relay, and that’s what provides them the sting, not that there’s any indication that the Gators can have an off NCAAs, as their previous performances (an NCAA report in 2024, and an NCAA report albeit DQed final yr) present. With Marshall, de Groot, Buff, and Liendo already having set the NCAA relay, some could ask whether or not they have peaked too quickly, however the previous precedent of Florida swimming properly at SECs and NCAA ought to dispel such qualms.
The battle between Texas and ASU is a front-half vs. back-half duel. Can Modglin and Germonprez give the Longhorns sufficient of a result in maintain off Kharun? If Adam Chaney can get again all the way down to the low 20 factors, then ASU will definitely have a greater likelihood of staying near Texas, and permitting Kharun to move Kos, leaving it as much as the anchor legs. Whereas ASU’s anchor isn’t identified, Texas’s 18.52 simply doesn’t look like sufficient to carry on for the silver.
After that, it’s a decent battle; NC State and Florida State look prone to bounce again up into the highest 8, but it surely’s robust to see who will get neglected. LSU’s enchancment curve has been otherworldly this season, however it might have attain a degree the place they begin to run out area to enhance and people groups behind them could taper their manner forward of the Tigers. Kentucky’s reliance on a really robust backstroke break up will possible expose them right here, after which in a toss-up between Indiana and Michigan, the Wolverines get the sting as we expect Mladenovic has extra room to drop time than Travis Gulledge does, who, regardless of out-splitting him at Large Tens, is seeded .90 again of him within the 100 breast.
SwimSwam Picks:
Place
Crew
Entry Time
Final Season End
1
Florida
1:20.03
DQ
2
ASU
1:20.56
4th – 1:20.87
3
Texas
1:20.85
1st – 1:20.28
4
Cal
1:21.63
third – 1:20.76
5
NC State
1:22.80
sixth – 1:21.16
6
LSU
1:21.23
seventeenth – 1:23.66
7
Michigan
1:21.99
DQ
8
Florida State
1:22.23
seventh – 1:21.60
Darkish Horse: Military (T-Sixteenth – 1:22.95): The US Navy Academy seems because the seventeenth seed within the psych sheet, however is definitely tied for Sixteenth with Northwestern. Military completed third on the Patriot League Championships, with a time of 1:23.80, however had been 1:22.95 on the all-important Military vs Navy Twin meet. With a 20.64 from Johnny Crush and a 22.80 from Kohen Rankin, each of whom are high 8 seeds of their respective 100s, to open issues up for Military, the Cadets can be out very quick and could also be sufficient to sneak properly into the highest 16, and maintain an out of doors likelihood of incomes these A-final factors.Â
Learn the complete story on SwimSwam: 2026 M. NCAA Previews: Florida Hoping for a Positive Shot on the 200 Medley Title After 2025 DQ
