The regular season is winding down and it's time to look at the top team title contenders. Here's a brief look at the top three men's and women's championship contenders, based on the latest USTFCCCA TFRI.
Men's contenders
No. 1 Arkansas
Arkansas is the most well-rounded team in the country. The Razorbacks could score in the sprints, mid-distance, distance, jumps and heptathlon. That's a lot of points. With Arkansas only two years removed from a dominant 63-point performance, could 2025 be a repeat?
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No. 2 Southern California
Southern California has a lot of depth in the sprints that could carry it to the top this year. The Trojans have three in the top 11 of the 60 meters, two in the top seven of the 200 meters, and three in the top eight of the 400 meters. JC Stevenson and Johnny Brackins are two of the best long jumpers in the country, and the pair is also two of many athletes expected to double.
USC will likely need its athletes to score in multiple events to lift the first-place trophy this year, and it's very doable.
No. 3 Texas Tech
The defending indoor national champions will be top contenders for a title again this March. The Red Raiders lost seniors Terrence Jones, Don'dre Swint, and Caleb Dean — a combined 39 points in the sprints — from last year, but hasn't missed a beat. Shawn Brown, Antoine Andrews and transfer Malachi Snow are leading the way this year and are projected to score this year.
Freshmen Sean Gribble in the pole vault and BJ Jennings in the high jump could also add points in their rookie year, a boost for the program that scored just 3.5 points in the field events last year.
Texas Tech definitely is a threat to repeat this championship season.
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Women's contenders
No. 1 Arkansas
Can Arkansas three-peat? If the Razorbacks do, they'll be the first to do so since Oregon won five straight to start the 2010s.
In 2025, Arkansas will again be loaded with talent in the 400 meters, highlighted by transfer Isabella Whittaker. Rachel Glenn is also back, leading a talented jumps group. This year's Razorbacks can run it back.
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No. 2 BYU
BYU recently ran the fastest indoor DMR ever, highlighting its potential in the distance events at championships. Lexy Halladay-Lowry and Riley Chamberlain are the top two runners in the 3000 meters, and the former has the third-fastest 5000-meter time.
However, the Cougars aren't only finding success on the track in the longer events. Sami Oblad and Meghan Hunter are top four in the country in the 400 meters and 800 meters. BYU is a legit title contender.
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No. 3 Texas Tech
Texas Tech could get a lot of points from its field events at the championships. I wouldn't be surprised if the Red Raiders have multiple point scorers in the high jump and triple jump, while Shelby Frank appears like a lock to score in the weight throw.
When combined with sprinters like Success Umukoro and Naomi Krebs, Texas Tech is a contender on the women's side.
