Texas Women Favored for NCAA Runner-Up Spot Behind Virginia
A SwimSwam poll shows 53.8% of voters pick the University of Texas women's swimming team as the frontrunner to finish second at the 2027 NCAA
More than half of respondents in a recent SwimSwam poll believe the University of Texas women's swimming team is the nation's second-best squad behind the Virginia dynasty. The poll asked readers to identify the frontrunner for the number two spot at the 2027 Women's NCAA Championships.
Virginia is the unanimous pick to win a seventh consecutive national title in March. Behind them, however, the race for second place appears wide open. Texas emerged as the clear favorite among voters.
Poll Results
The results of the SwimSwam Pulse poll, sponsored by A3 Performance, are detailed below.
| Team | Percentage of Votes |
|---|---|
| Texas | 53.8% |
| Cal | 17.1% |
| Tennessee | 13.4% |
| Stanford | 10.3% |
| Indiana | 3.8% |
| Michigan | 1.5% |
| Other | 0.7% |
The Case for Texas
Texas has consistently finished near the top of the standings throughout Virginia's reign. The Longhorns have placed no lower than third since 2021. They secured three straight runner-up finishes in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
In the last two seasons, Stanford earned second place with Texas in third. The poll suggests a shift in perception for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Voters are backing Texas to reclaim the runner-up position.
The Longhorns are returning all of their individual points from the 2026 NCAA Championships. They are also adding a strong recruiting class. That group is headlined by Audrey Derivaux, who graduated from high school early.
Challengers for Second
The California Golden Bears finished second in the poll with 17.1% of the vote. Like Texas, Cal benefits from an early high school graduation. Rylee Erisman joins the roster this fall after initially being part of the class of 2027.
Cal is losing a key contributor in Teagan O'Dell, who transferred to Virginia. The team returns most of its 2026 NCAA roster and has other impactful recruits alongside Erisman.
The Tennessee Volunteers ranked third in the poll with 13.4% support. They have a standout recruiting class led by Charlotte Crush. Last season, Cal placed fourth at NCAAs with 303 points, narrowly edging out Tennessee's 301.5.
Stanford's Outlook
Stanford, which has finished second for two consecutive years, received 10.3% of the vote. The Cardinal lose their top two scorers from last season, Torri Huske and Lucy Bell. Their absence is a significant factor in the poll's outcome.
In the 2023-24 season, when Huske took an Olympic redshirt, Stanford fell to fifth in the team standings. The poll indicates voters expect a similar challenge without their star power.
The poll reflects fan sentiment as teams prepare for the next NCAA season. The results highlight the perceived strength of Texas's returning roster and incoming talent. The battle for second place behind Virginia remains a central storyline in collegiate swimming.
