The NCAA Men's Swimming Scene is Exploding with Record-Breaking Speed – But Who Will Reign Supreme?
Hey there, swim fans and curious newcomers alike! Imagine a world where every stroke in the pool pushes the boundaries of human potential, and the midseason meets aren't just a warm-up – they're a high-stakes preview of glory. That's exactly what's unfolding in the 2025 NCAA Men's swimming season, where rivals are shaving off precious seconds and challenging the status quo. But here's where it gets exciting: with the Minnesota Invite wrapping up on Saturday, we've seen an avalanche of faster times across the board, setting the stage for an unforgettable championship chase. If you're new to the swim scene, think of these midseason meets as the halfway point in a thrilling marathon, where athletes test their mettle before the big finale. And spoiler alert – this year's leaderboard is tighter than ever, with implications that could spark heated debates among coaches, fans, and analysts.
Just to keep things in perspective, before these invitational events, SwimSwam dissected the season's swiftest swims, and now we're back with the updated lineup post-invites. For context, if you're unfamiliar, these times are clocked in short course yards (SCY), the standard for collegiate competitions, where athletes race in 25-yard pools – a format that demands explosive power and precision over longer distances.
For a peek at the women's side, check out this related piece: Women’s Updated Top Three Times.
Every men's event saw its top spots accelerate, with just one athlete failing to eclipse their previous best during the midseason showdowns. All the standout improvements are highlighted in bold for easy spotting.
EVENT | Fastest | 2nd Fastest | 3rd Fastest
50 free | Ilya Kharun (ASU)/Josh Liendo (FLOR), 18.40 (TIE) | Gui Caribe (TENN), 18.47 |
100 free | Gui Caribe (TENN), 40.91 | Remi Fabiani (ASU), 41.10 | Josh Liendo (FLOR), 41.11 |
200 free | Remi Fabiani (ASU), 1:31.23 | Koby Bujak-Upton (TENN), 1:31.30 | Nikoli Blackman (TENN), 1:31.41 |
500 free | Zalan Sarkany (IU), 4:09.57 | Ahmed Jaouadi (FLOR), 4:10.72 | Rex Maurer (TEX), 4:10.75 |
1650 free | Zalan Sarkany (IU), 14:23.85 | Luke Whitlock (IU), 14:37.47 | Ahmed Jaouadi (FLOR), 14:39.10 |
100 back | Will Modglin (TEX), 43.26 | Ruard Van Renen (UGA), 43.92 | Adam Chaney (ASU)/Owen McDonald (IU), 44.13 |
200 back | JT Ewing (ASU), 1:39.00 | Tommy Hagar (BAMA), 1:39.03 | Jonny Marshall (FLOR), 1:39.04 |
100 breast | Nate Germonprez (TEX), 49.71 | Campbell McKean (TEX), 50.37 | Yamato Okadome (CAL), 50.48 |
200 breast | Will Scholtz (TEX), 1:49.59 | Ben Delmar (UNC), 1:49.76 | Nate Germonprez (TEX), 1:49.80 |
100 fly | Ilya Kharun (ASU), 43.38 | Josh Liendo (FLOR), 43.42 | Luca Urlando (UGA), 43.87 |
200 fly | Luca Urlando (UGA), 1:36.41 | Ilya Kharun (ASU), 1:37.56 | Thomas Heilman (UVA), 1:39.09 |
200 IM | Baylor Nelson (TEX), 1:40.29 | Will Modglin (TEX), 1:40.58 | Owen McDonald (IU), 1:40.90 |
400 IM | Baylor Nelson (TEX), 3:34.83 | Cooper Lucas (TEX), 3:35.28 | Tristan Jankovics (OSU), 3:38.91 |
200 free relay | ASU, 1:13.72 | Florida, 1:15.19 | NC State, 1:15.47 |
400 free relay | NC State, 2:45.16 | ASU, 2:46.11 | Indiana, 2:46.69 |
800 free relay | Texas, 6:07.66 | Florida State, 6:10.65 | Ohio State, 6:12.23 |
200 medley relay | ASU, 1:20.56 | Texas, 1:21.11 | Indiana, 1:21.99 |
400 medley relay | ASU, 2:59.87 | Texas, 3:00.34 | Georgia, 3:00.84 |
And this is the part most people miss – there's a notable gap in our rankings: Texas senior Hubert Kos (profile) hasn't competed in any SCY events for his team this season yet. Instead, the talented Hungarian has been dominating elsewhere, clinching the overall title at the 2025 World Cup series and sweeping the 100 and 200 backstroke plus the 200 IM at the 2025 U.S. Open. This begs the question: when Kos finally dives in for Texas next month, how many of these spots will he claim? It's a tantalizing preview of potential upsets, and for beginners, remember that international meets like these often serve as a testing ground for Olympic-level talent, sometimes revealing strategies that NCAA coaches might adapt.
Speaking of dominance, the Texas Longhorns are still the kings of the leaderboard, claiming 11 out of the 42 individual event positions – including five number-one spots. Baylor Nelson (TEX) stands out as their star, being the only Longhorn with top marks in multiple events. His leaps forward at the Hall of Fame Invite were nothing short of spectacular, propelling him to the lead in the 200 IM (1:40.29) and the 400 IM (3:34.83). To explain for newcomers, individual medleys (IMs) combine all four strokes – butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle – in a single race, demanding versatility and stamina.
Nelson isn't alone; Texas's breaststroke duo, Nate Germonprez (TEX) with a stellar 49.71 in the 100 and Will Scholtz (TEX) at 1:49.59 in the 200, plus backstroker Will Modglin (TEX) holding the American Record of 43.26 in the 100 back, are anchoring their success. Modglin also secures second in the 200 IM with 1:40.58. Rounding out the Texas contingent are Campbell McKean (TEX) in second for the 100 breast (50.37), Cooper Lucas (TEX) as runner-up in the 400 IM (3:35.28), and Rex Maurer (TEX) in third for the 500 free (4:10.75, set back in October).
Arizona State trails closely with seven individual spots. Ilya Kharun (ASU) is their powerhouse, tying for first in the 50 free at 18.40 with Florida's Josh Liendo (FLOR) and owning the 100 fly at 43.38. Remi Fabiani tops the 200 free at 1:31.23, while JT Ewing (ASU) rules the 200 back with 1:39.00. Plus, the Sun Devils dominate relays, leading in the 200 free, 200 medley, and 400 medley – a testament to their team synergy.
But here's where it gets controversial: the races at the top are razor-close, sparking debates on whether sheer talent or strategic training edges out the winners. In the 50 free, Kharun and Liendo are deadlocked, with Tennessee's Gui Caribe (TENN) just 0.07 seconds behind. The top threes in the 100 and 200 free, plus the 200 breast, are split by mere 0.2 seconds, and the 500 free by over a second. The 200 back's leaders are separated by only 0.04 seconds, with Ewing first and Florida's Jonny Marshall (FLOR) third. Some might argue this tightness makes the season unpredictable and exciting, while others question if it reflects an overemphasis on specialization over well-rounded athletes. What do you think – is this closeness a sign of progress in training methods, or does it highlight the need for more diverse event focus?
Looking back at last year's standings (link), the biggest shift is the absence of Jordan Crooks (ASU), who once owned the top spots in four events here: 50 free (18.12), 100 free (40.26), 200 free (1:30.00), and 100 fly (43.77). His times would still top the charts this year, underscoring how much the landscape has evolved. For example, newcomers like Nelson and Kharun are filling the gaps, potentially reshaping team strategies.
In This Story
Adam Chaney (profile)
Campbell McKean (profile)
Hubert Kos (profile)
Ilya Kharun (profile)
Jordan Crooks (profile)
Josh Liendo (profile)
Luca Urlando (profile)
Luke Whitlock (profile)
Thomas Heilman (profile)
These rankings aren't just numbers – they're a snapshot of athletic evolution. As the season progresses, expect more surprises. Do you believe Hubert Kos will disrupt the dominance of teams like Texas and ASU? Or perhaps you're rooting for an underdog to climb the charts? Share your thoughts in the comments – let's discuss: Is international racing beneficial for NCAA prospects, or does it create an unfair advantage? Agree or disagree with the call that this year's top times signal a new era of speed?
