KNOXVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 Since joining the Southeastern Conference, the Texas Longhorns have taken the league by storm.<\/p>\n
In two years, they\u2019ve won all four team titles in swimming and diving.<\/p>\n
Texas was the biggest change to the league in 2025, and although it once again swept the championships, the SEC looked different in 2026.<\/p>\n
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The meet was defined by a lack of COVID-19 fifth-years, new roster limits, top-end speed and a new event schedule.<\/p>\n
Here are the main takeaways from this year\u2019s SEC swimming and diving championships:<\/p>\n
Texas cements itself as the kings and queens of the SEC<\/p>\n
A year ago Texas took over the SEC in the pool and on the boards. In 2026, the Longhorns pulled off another sweep, winning both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s title.<\/p>\n
The scariest part: The squad from Austin still had room to improve.<\/p>\n
The Texas men left no doubt, holding down first place from the start. The women\u2019s meet was close through three days of competition, but the Longhorns’ elite depth proved to be too much for the rest of the conference.<\/p>\n
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The Texas men are the blueblood of collegiate swimming. With 16 national championships to their name, the Longhorns have been title contenders for the past four decades. They have also won 28 consecutive Big 12 titles, which is every single year of the league\u2019s existence until they left for the SEC. It\u2019s no surprise they have taken over the conference.<\/p>\n
Hubert Kos\u2019 SEC performance<\/a> encapsulated the dominance of the Texas men. The 2024 Olympic 200-meter backstroke gold medalist won two of his three events. His most impressive feat is that he swam two championship finals on Saturday night and won gold in the 200-yard IM and silver in the 200-yd backstroke, with only about 45 minutes of rest between the two swims.<\/p>\n To put it simply, Texas has the talent of a pro roster. Whether it\u2019s young stars or veteran leadership the Texas men have it.<\/p>\n On the women\u2019s side the Longhorns were fueled by the pure depth of the roster.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Campbell Stoll<\/a> and Angie Coe<\/a> both won two of their three events. Stoll swept the 100-yd and 200-yd butterfly while Coe swept the 200-yd and 400-yd IM\u2019s.<\/p>\n The Longhorns freshman and sophomore classes reinforced the team\u2019s strengths and were a major factor in their seven wins this week.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat competition, a lot of fun\u2026this environment brings out the best in our team,\u201d Texas women\u2019s head coach Carol Capitani said after the meet.<\/p>\n Texas will now set its sights on the NCAAs in March where the women look to compete for another top-three finish and the men look to repeat as national champions.<\/p>\n Florida\u2019s Josh Liendo chases history in the 100-yd butterfly<\/p>\n For four years Florida\u2019s Josh Liendo dominated SEC waters<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He\u2019s a 19-time All-American, two-time Olympian, and, as of this week, an 18-time SEC champion.<\/p>\n Liendo stole the show at this year\u2019s SEC championships. After winning his fourth straight 100-yd butterfly and first 50-yd freestyle title this week, Liendo has cemented himself as one of the most successful swimmers in SEC history.<\/p>\n He swam the 100-yd butterfly in 43.06 seconds, the second fastest of all time behind Caeleb Dressel<\/a>. That morning he swam the fastest preliminary time in history in 43.26 seconds.<\/p>\n Liendo has broken SEC records, posted the fastest splits in history, and led relays to multiple NCAA championships in NCAA record fashion. However, he has never broken an individual NCAA record.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Still eluding Liendo is what many considered an untouchable record. Dressel holds the national record in the 100-yd butterfly at 42.80 seconds. Achieving that mark would move Liendo into the top tier of all-time collegiate swimmers.<\/p>\n Liendo ended his SEC career on a low note, falling to LSU\u2019s Jere Hribar<\/a> in the 100-freestyle final, spoiling his perfect week. Hribar\u2019s win was the breakout swim of the meet, stealing the gold, posting the fastest time in the country this year and breaking Liendo\u2019s SEC meet record.<\/p>\n Regardless, all eyes will be on Liendo come March. The senior will be the focal point of the NCAA championships, and he has a chance to become one of the most recognizable names in collegiate swimming history.<\/p>\n Tennessee women find success a year ahead of schedule<\/p>\n As the final race came to a close, Texas wasn\u2019t the only team celebrating its week in Knoxville.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Tennessee Lady Volunteers left their home pool with smiles on their faces and momentum on their side. The Lady Vols have only two seniors on the roster, and were able to jump up to second in the team standings after a third-place finish in 2025.<\/p>\n