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Texas Rowing won the 2026 NCAA Division I National Championship with 130 points earned by winning the first eight, finishing second in the second eight, and winning the four final on Lake Lanier, Georgia’s 1996 Olympic course. The Longhorns’ first eight shattered the world best time (5:53) for a women’s eight, set by Romania at the Tokyo Olympics, by winning the NCAA final in 5:47. Stanford was second (5:50) and Tennessee third (5:51) in both the first varsity race and team standings.
“This was by far the fastest NCAA rowing championship in the history of the event,” Cal head coach Al Acosta said. “Hats off to Texas and their world record in the first eight.”
Texas has now won four national titles over the last six years, all under head coach Dave O’Neill in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2026. The four national championships moves Texas into a tie for third-most all-time behind only Brown with seven and Washington with five, and equal with Cal.
“We treat every day like it’s NCAAs and then get to the NCAAs and treat it like it’s every other day,” said O’Neill.
