SwimSwam published their team previews - men are 12th and women aren't mentioned. Honestly, I was surprised at that ranking with Nelson, Wimberly, and Gulledge gone. Roster and schedule are not posted

2026 College Swimming Previews: #12 Texas A&M Men Aim for Big Year 2 Under Anderson https://t.co/iY4v93FsVw

— SwimSwam (@swimswamnews) August 26, 2025

Thanks for posting. I'm a little surprised with 12 also. Last year's performance did not inspire confidence. Recruiting picked up a little, but has a long way to go. Hopefully she went to Taper 101 Summer Camp.

With the amount of swimming talent that this state has produced just in the last 5-10 years, it's amazing this program can't be any better than it is. Why should A&M be behind programs like Auburn and Tennessee? I get they have more historical success, but they're in the same conference and they arguably have a less favorable recruiting back yard. Texas is understandable from the standpoint that they have unlimited funds and they have hired the biggest name coach in the business. Just feels like A&M underachieves in swimming.

That's not a preseason ranking article. It just previews the top 12 teams from last season.

I also had to go back and re-read the article because #12 would be outrageous.

3 Home Dual meets and no invitationals hosted

Date Time At Opponent/Tournament Location
Oct 10 (Fri) Away USC Invitational Los Angeles, Calif. (Uytengsu Aquatics Center)
Oct 17 (Fri) Home TCU Bryan-College Station (Rec Center Natatorium)
Oct 24 (Fri) Away SMU Dallas, Texas (Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center)
Oct 30 (Thu) Away Houston Houston, Texas (CRWC Natatorium)
Nov 13 (Thu) Away Texas Diving Invitational Austin, Texas (Jamail Texas Swim Center)
Nov 19 (Wed) Away Texas Invitational Austin, Texas (Jamail Texas Swim Center)
Dec 19 (Fri) Away Arizona Tucson, Ariz. (Hillenbrand Aquatic Center)
Jan 16 (Fri) 1:00 PM Away Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn. (Centennial Sportsplex)
Jan 16 (Fri) 1:00 PM Neutral Kentucky Nashville, Tenn. (Centennial Sportsplex)
Jan 23 (Fri) 1:00 PM Home Alabama Bryan-College Station (Rec Center Natatorium)
Jan 30 (Fri) 2:00 PM Home Texas Bryan-College Station (Rec Center Natatorium)
Feb 16 (Mon) Away SEC Championships Knoxville, Tenn. (Jones Aquatic Center)
Mar 9 (Mon) Home NCAA Zone D Diving Championships Bryan-College Station (Rec Center Natatorium)
Mar 18 (Wed) Away NCAA Women's Championship Atlanta, Ga. (McAuley Aquatic Center)
Mar 25 (Wed) Away NCAA Men's Championship Atlanta, Ga. (McAuley Aquatic Center)

They seem to be hitting the men's and women's 2027 classes pretty well, landing multiple top-100 recruits in each so far.

The answer might be found in the history of Dallas, 1) who ALWAYS provided public competitive swim water lanes at decent hours (no play toys/floaters in the way), 2) then SMU giving Coach Red Barr carte blanche & a building to become a natatorium 1946 = top 10 team in nation, winning 17 consecutive Southwest Conference titles (1953-1970).

BTW, SMU football was not able to help fund so much then as TAMU is today ..... and the SMU natatorium provided full circumference seating by comparison.