NC State, Indiana, and Cal Clinch Postseason Berth

2026 College Swimming League Match 5

The inaugural College Swimming League season is almost over with just one regular season match remaining, and we officially have two of our championship match teams and two of our wild card match teams locked in.

Virginia and NC State have both mathematically clinched the championship match, and Indiana and Cal have both clinched wild card participation.

Current League Standings

1. Virginia — 8 points (6-0)
   1. 1247 total points
   2. 2 matches
   3. Clinched Championship Berth
2. NC State — 7 points (5-1)
   1. 1103.33 total points
   2. 2 matches
   3. Clinched Championship Berth
3. Indiana — 7 points (5-1)
   1. 1056.33 points
   2. 2 matches
   3. Clinched Wild Card
4. California — 5 points (3-3)
   1. 937.83 points
   2. 2 matches
   3. Clinched Wild Card
5. Stanford — 5 points (3-3)
   1. 861 points
   2. 2 matches
6. Louisville — 5 points (3-3)
   1. 769 points
   2. 2 matches
7. Michigan — 3 points (1-5)
   1. 727 points
   2. 2 matches
   3. Eliminated
8. Tennessee — 3 points (2-1)
   1. 535 points
   2. 1 match
9. Ohio State — 2 points (0-6)
   1. 508.5 points
   2. 2 matches
   3. Eliminated
10. Auburn — 2 points (1-2)
    1. 371.5 points
    2. 1 match
11. Alabama — 2 points (1-2)
    1. 270 points
    2. 1 match
12. Georgia — 1 point (0-3)
    1. 211.5 points
    2. 1 match

What Happens Now?

The 6th and final match of the CSL will race on Friday, October 23, and it will ultimately determine which teams will move onto the wildcard and which team will earn an automatic berth to the championship meet.

The #8 ranked Tennessee team will be racing #10 Auburn, #11 Alabama, and #12 Georgia as each team aims for the same postseason spots.

Let’s get a quick refresh of the rules for qualifying:

• The top three teams will move to the Championship Match on Friday, November 6th in Indianapolis.
• The teams ranked 4-7 will race in the Wild Card Match the day prior on Thursday, November 5th and the winner of that match will earn the final spot in the Championship.
• Teams are chosen based on their overall CSL ranking. If a team has the same number of league points, they will proceed to a series of tie-breakers.
  1. Head-to-Head result. If the teams competed against each other, whoever came out on top will hold the tie-break regardless of point totals.
  2. Total points scored across all regular season matches.
  3. If teams are still tied, the CSL will administer a coin flip.

Now, what will it take for each team to qualify?

Tennessee

• If Tennessee wins their match, and score more than 521.33 points (what it would take to beat Indiana in the tie-break), they will earn an automatic Championship berth.
• If they win their match but score less than 521.33 points, they will earn an automatic wild card berth and Indiana will move into the Championship.
• If they finish 2nd, they will automatically move to the wild card match.
• If they finish 3rd, they must score more than 326 points to move on.

Auburn

• If Auburn finishes 1st, they will earn a wild card spot.
• If Auburn finishes 2nd, and score more than 397.5 points they will move on.

Alabama

• If Alabama finishes 1st, they will earn a wild card spot.
• If Alabama finishes 2nd, and score more than 499 points they will move on.

Georgia

• If Georgia finishes 1st and Tennessee finishes 2nd, they must score more than 557.5 points to move on.
• If Georgia finishes 1st and any other team finishes 2nd, they will earn a wild card spot.