The NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Oversight Committee approved reinstating the consolation finals in swimming and diving for the 2027 championships.
In swimming, the consolation finals will be contested before the A-finals session. The B-finals will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the A-finals at 7 p.m.
In diving, the consolation finals will be conducted immediately after the preliminaries.
The diving finals will retain the split format, with the first three rounds or first two rounds of women's platform taking place before the A-finals begin and the last three rounds taking place before the last two heats of the relay each evening on Days 2, 3 and 4 of the championships.
Another change for next year is reordering the events to the order from 2025, except the committee retained the 1,650-yard freestyle on the first day of the championships. In addition to the reordering of events, the committee removed the swimming preliminary session on the first day and returned it to a single-timed finals session in the evening.
Other championship format changes
- The committee approved swimming all relay heats in the evening sessions. The relays seeded 17th and higher will be conducted with consolation finals and the fastest two heats during the A-finals. This applies only to Days 2, 3 and 4 of the championships.
- Awards ceremonies will immediately follow each A-final event during commercial breaks.
- The committee updated the qualification standards for individual events so a targeted 10% of invited student-athletes enter through the conference qualifier pathway. The men's standard is set at the 64th best time on the performance list from 2025-26, and the women's standard on the 88th best time on the performance list from 2025-26. Also, the selection process will be modified so student-athletes who access the meet via the conference qualifier are selected only in their top-ranked event.
Committee members updated the championship format based on a recommendation from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America and other stakeholders, along with feedback from championship participant surveys.
The changes support the goal of presenting the championship for linear broadcast opportunities while enhancing the in-venue and student-athlete experiences.
"These changes represent an important step forward for collegiate swimming and diving," said CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany. "They allow us to provide student-athletes with the championship experience they deserve and create a model that is prepared for the realities and opportunities of today's landscape. Most importantly, we can begin exploring what the future of the championship can become. By working together, we have created a foundation that addresses today's needs while opening the door for long-term innovation and continued progress for the sport."
