College Swimming League sets inaugural meet schedule: six venues, coast to coast
· Yahoo Sports
The College Swimming League, which is making its debut this fall, has its map for year one, and it spans the entire country.
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The new league announced its full 2026 schedule, revealing the six venues that will host all eight matches of its inaugural fall season, from the season opening in Chicago to a championship weekend in in Indianapolis.
The action starts September 24-25 at FMC Natatorium in Chicago, where two matches will kick off the league's first season. From there, the CSL heads west to Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center on October 2, then to Knoxville's Allan Jones Aquatic Center on October 9, before a return trip to California for Match 5 at Mt. SAC Aquatic Center on October 16. The regular season wraps October 23 at Georgia's Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens.
The season closes with a two-day finale at the IU Natatorium at IU Indianapolis on November 5-6, featuring a wild card match followed by the championship, both determined by regular-season standings.
"We are absolutely thrilled to bring the inaugural College Swimming League season to life across six of the finest aquatics venues in the country,” CEO Rob Kent said. “Beginning with our very first matchups at FMC, through high-octane regular season stops at Stanford, Tennessee, Mt San Antonio, and UGA, all the way to our postseason grand finale at the legendary IU Natatorium, we have built a competitive landscape designed for elite racing.”
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 13: Claire Curzan prepares to compete in the Women's 100 Meter Backstroke finals on Day 4 of the TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center on January 13, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)Alex Slitz via Getty ImagesAll 12 inaugural programs are ranked top-25 Division I powers, including the six-time defending NCAA champion Virginia women. Each team will be compete throughout the season across the six venues in four-team matches designed to build toward the postseason.
"Fans have been asking us where these matches will happen since the day we announced the league, so this is a fun one to finally share.” said Kyle Sockwell, Chief Operating Officer. “These six venues give us the room to build the kind of match day you plan a trip around, and the schedule takes us coast to coast.”
The CSL is a new event this fall, reshaping how college swimming gets presented. Instead of the sport's usual formatting, the league splits its 12 top-25 programs into four-team matches, smaller, sharper showdowns designed to be easier to follow and more compelling to watch, whether you're in the stands or streaming at home.
For a sport that has long struggled to give fans a season-long thread to follow, the CSL's first schedule offers exactly that, a build from Chicago to Indianapolis, with standings on the line the whole way.
Tickets for all eight matches go on sale August 24, with more details available at collegeswimmingleague.com.