Get ready for an exciting mid-season showdown! The NCAA swimming and diving teams are gearing up for their first big competitions of the 2025-26 season, and the action is about to heat up. But here's where it gets interesting: these meets are not just any ordinary dual meets; they're the highly anticipated mid-season invites, and they're coming your way soon!
The early season has already seen some intense battles, but now, teams are preparing for their first chance to showcase their skills and strategies. And trust me, these invites are not to be missed!
The Big Picture
After a series of initial dual meets, the NCAA is now focusing on the mid-season invitationals, with the majority of these events taking place over the next few weeks. These invites will provide a great opportunity for teams to fine-tune their performances and gain valuable experience before the big championships.
The first wave of invites will commence in just two weeks, from November 18th to 23rd, with a few more invites following after the Thanksgiving break in early December. So, mark your calendars, swimming enthusiasts!
Marquee Meets and Top-Ranked Teams
One of the most anticipated meets of November is the inaugural CSCAA Power 4 Dual Meet Challenge, which is not your typical invite. This challenge will feature some of the top-ranked teams, including host Tennessee, Virginia, Arizona State, and Michigan. It's a clash of the titans, and you won't want to miss it!
Other notable meets include the Texas Hall of Fame Invite, where the host Longhorns will face off against the Stanford women, and the UGA Fall Invite, pitting the host Bulldogs against Florida. These meets are sure to deliver some thrilling moments and showcase the best of NCAA swimming.
The Full Lineup
SwimSwam has been working hard to bring you the definitive list of teams and their respective invites. We've reached out to the host schools, and here's the full lineup for your viewing pleasure:
Week 1
- SIU A3 Performance Invite (Nov. 13-15): Southern Illinois (Host), Eastern Illinois, Evansville, Omaha, Bellarmine
- Georgia Tech Diving Invitational (Nov. 13-15): Georgia Tech (Host), Auburn, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Duke, East Carolina, Missouri
- Texas Diving Invitational (Nov. 13-15): Texas (Host), Texas A&M, Stanford, Utah, Arizona, TCU
Week 2
- Georgia Fall Invitational (Nov. 18-21): Georgia (Host), Georgia Tech, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU
- Ohio State Fall Invitational (Nov. 18-21): Ohio State (Host), Indiana, Yale, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Louisville, Penn State, UCLA, Kentucky, Purdue
- Gamecock Invitational (Nov. 18-21): South Carolina (Host), UNC, Tampa, Florida Southern, Carson-Newman, East Carolina, North Florida, Georgia Southern, SCAD
- Hawkeye Invitational (Nov. 18-21): Iowa (Host), Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Miami (FL), Nebraska, UConn, Northern Iowa, Washington State
- Texas Hall of Fame Invite (Nov. 19-21): Texas (Host), Texas A&M, USC, Stanford women, Wisconsin, Pitt, Northwestern
- Phill Hansel Invitational (Nov. 19-21): Houston (Host), Air Force, New Mexico, Tulane, Rice, FGCU, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Vanderbilt, Colorado State, Nevada
- SMU Invite (Nov. 19-22): SMU (Host), Stanford men, Drury, Hawaii, Utah, Air Force men, North Texas, Arkansas, Notre Dame (diving)
- Patriot Invitational (Nov. 19-22): George Mason (Host), American, Towson, Florida Atlantic, Richmond, Marist, Marymount, Monmouth
- Miami (OH) Invitational (Nov. 19-22): Miami OH (Host), UIndy, Valparaiso, Ouachita Baptist, Notre Dame, Marshall, Indiana State, Illinois State
- CMU Invitational (Nov. 19-22): Colorado Mesa (Host), Colorado School of Mines, NAU
- Utah Tech Trailblazer Invitational (Nov. 19-22): Utah Tech (Host), Fresno State, Pacific, UC Davis, Cal Baptist, UC San Diego, San Diego
- Wolfpack Elite GAC Invite (Nov. 20-22): NC State (Host), Virginia Tech, Army, Duke, Arizona, Auburn, George Washington, BYU
- Mizzou Invite (Nov. 20-22): Missouri (Host), TCU, Wyoming, FIU, Missouri S&T, SIU, McKendree
- Navy Fall Invitational (Nov. 20-22): Navy (Host), Delaware, Villanova, James Madison, UC Santa Barbara, NC State (diving), George Washington (diving)
- YSU Invite (Nov. 20-22): Youngstown State (Host), PennWest Edinboro, Pitt-Johnstown, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Trojan Diving Invitational (Nov. 20-22): USC (Host), UCLA, BYU, UNLV, Cal Baptist, UC San Diego, Grand Canyon, Pepperdine, Idaho, UC Bakersfield, Fresno State
- WVU Invitational (Nov. 20-22): WVU (Host), Georgetown, Drexel, William & Mary, James Madison, Duquesne, Toledo
- House of Champions Invite (Nov. 20-22): IU Indy (Host), Butler, Lewis, Lynn, Milwaukee, Missouri State, Northern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, St. Louis University, Arkansas Little Rock, UIC, Montevallo
- Magnus Cup (Nov. 20-22): Cleveland State (Host), Northern Colorado, Akron, St. Bonaventure, Xavier, John Carroll, Le Moyne, Binghamton
- NW Collegiate Invite (Nov. 20-22): University of Idaho (Host), College of Idaho, Seattle U, Whitman College, UTRGV, Alaska Fairbanks, Pepperdine, Cal State Bakersfield
- Tommie Invite (Nov. 20-22): St. Thomas (Host), UW-Green Bay, South Dakota, South Dakota State
- Lumberjack Diving Invite (Nov. 20-22): NAU (Host), San Diego State, UC Davis, UTRGV
- Queens Fall Frenzy (Nov. 20-23): Queens (Host), Catawba, Wingate, UNC Wilmington, UNC Asheville, La Salle, Gardner-Webb, Incarnate Word, Nova Southeastern, Florida Tech
- Harold Anderson Invitational (Nov. 20-23): Rhode Island (Host), Assumption, Holy Cross, Maine, New Hampshire, Providence, Stonehill, Vermont, Wagner
- UB Invite (Nov. 21-22): Buffalo (Host), Canisius, Niagara
- CSCAA Power 4 Dual Meet Challenge (Nov. 21-23): Tennessee (Host), Virginia, Arizona State, Michigan
- Bucknell Invitational (Nov. 21-23): Bucknell (Host), Brown, Delaware, Davidson, Fordham, Seton Hall, UMBC
- Terrier Invite (Nov. 21-23): Boston U (Host), Boston College, Bryant, Fairfield, Northeastern, UMass Amherst, Army (diving), Babson (diving), Colgate (diving)
- Tiger Invitational (Nov. 21-23): Trinity (Host), Incarnate Word, Southwestern, St. Thomas (TX), UT Permian Basin, Adams State, McMurray, Austin College
- H2ounds Invitational (Nov. 21-23): Loyola, Colgate, Howard, Rider
- TYR '85 Invite (Nov. 21-23): Liberty (Host), Cal U of Pennsylvania, Campbell, Ohio, Saint Francis, UNC Pembroke
Week 3
- Golden Grizzly Classic (Dec. 3-6): Oakland (Host), Wayne State, Eastern Michigan, Grand Canyon, Dartmouth
- Minnesota Invite (Dec. 4-6): Minnesota (Host), Cal, Harvard, Rutgers, UNLV, Denver, Northwestern (diving), Iowa State (diving)
- Big Al Invitational (Dec. 4-6): Princeton (Host), Penn, Columbia
- Zippy Invitational (Dec. 4-7): Akron (Host), Bowling Green State, Buffalo, Clarion, Cornell, Keiser, Youngstown State
- Gompei Invitational (Dec. 5-7): Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Host), Merrimack, Brandeis, Bentley, CCSU, Clark, Sacred Heart, Springfield, St. Peters
So, swimming fans, get ready for an action-packed few weeks! Which teams do you think will shine at these mid-season invites? And this is the part most people miss: these meets often provide an early glimpse into the potential for the upcoming championships. Will any dark horses emerge? Let's discuss in the comments and share our predictions!
And remember, if we've missed any invites featuring Division 1 schools, feel free to drop a comment and fill us in! We want to ensure we capture every exciting moment of this mid-season racing frenzy!
