DFL Swimming Podcast

Conference championships are heating up and we’re breaking down all the biggest swims and storylines from the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten. From Texas’ dominance and Liendo looking sharp, to Virginia flexing in the ACC and Michigan officially “arriving” in the B1G, we hit the major takeaways. We debate whether Bella Sims was the missing piece for Michigan, who might be saving up for NCAAs, and which teams should be concerned. Plus, early Big Ten predictions and a quick look at the Big 12 landscape. Championship season is here—and the energy is shifting

Conference season is here, and we’re breaking down our full 2026 ACC, SEC, and Big Ten previews. We debate Cal vs. NC State vs. Stanford on the men’s ACC side, how dominant Texas can be in the SEC, and whether IU or Michigan takes control in the Big Ten. We also highlight the must-watch races—Huske vs. Curtis in the 50 free, Liendo vs. Caribe in the sprints, Delmar vs. Okadome in the 200 breast, and stacked women’s 200 frees across conferences. Plus, full team-by-team placement predictions from both of us. Championship season starts now

Big January duals are in the books, and we’re breaking down where the top programs really stand. From Zona vs. ASU fireworks and NC State’s distance dominance to UVA’s women flexing elite depth and Cal’s puzzling approach to big meets, we hit all the major Power Four matchups. We also dive into breakout swims, midseason transfers making waves, conference outlooks, and the big question: who’s actually trending toward NCAA hardware? It’s a full January stock report on college swimming—who’s rising, who’s steady, and who should be a little concerned heading into championship season

Join hosts Casey Stowe and Desmon Sachtjen on the DFL Swimming Podcast as they welcome back Max McHugh, a four-time NCAA champion and current assistant swimming coach at the University of Notre Dame. Dive into Max's journey from champion swimmer to coach, explore the dynamics of coaching at Notre Dame, and discover the balance between athletics and academics. This episode is packed with insights, reflections, and advice for aspiring swimmers and coaches.

In this episode, we break down and react to a recent podcast featuring Kyle Sockwell and his vision for a new professional-style league connected to college swimming. We discuss what the proposed format could look like, which programs may be involved, and the biggest challenges facing the league—from coach buy-in and scheduling to media exposure and long-term NCAA implications. We also zoom out to talk about the current state of college swimming, including fall meets, training trips, and how teams build toward conference championships. To close, we take a fun detour into some eye-opening comparisons of the fastest combined 400 IM performances ever and what they say about all-time versatility. A quick, thought-provoking episode focused on where college swimming is—and where it might be going next.

This episode is entirely focused on one question: what is the greatest women’s NCAA swimming team of all time? We break down the most dominant women’s programs in college swimming history by comparing finalist depth, event wins, record-breaking performances, and championship impact. From Stanford’s historic 2018 roster to UVA’s modern dynasty from 2022–2025, Georgia’s mid-2000s dominance, and Auburn’s powerhouse relay-era teams, we analyze how each squad separated itself on the national stage. We discuss the role of superstar talent versus unmatched depth, how scoring trends and specialization have evolved, and which teams reshaped expectations for women’s college swimming. With iconic performances from some of the sport’s biggest names and data-driven comparisons across eras, we debate which programs truly defined dominance. The episode closes with our rankings and predictions for the most impressive women’s dynasty in NCAA swimming history.

This episode is fully dedicated to answering one massive question: what is the greatest men’s NCAA swimming team of all time? We break down the most dominant men’s programs in college swimming history, comparing legendary squads across eras using hard data—A-finals, B-finals, event wins, records, and overall depth. From the star-studded Texas 2017 roster to powerhouse Auburn teams of the mid-2000s, Stanford’s early-90s dominance, Michigan’s 2013 group, and modern contenders like ASU 2024 and Cal’s late-2010s teams, we examine how each lineup stacked up on the national stage. We discuss which teams were built on top-end stars versus overwhelming depth, how scoring trends have changed over time, and what truly separates a great team from an all-time great one.

This week on the DFL Swimming Podcast, we break down all the major storylines from last weekend’s midseason meets. We open with the Tennessee Dual Meet Challenge — a promising but still unfinished product — and dive into how timeouts, scoring confusion, and UVA’s strategy shaped the meet’s overall optics. From there, we take a full tour through midseason action: We highlight standout performances across Minnesota, SMU, UGA, and OSU, including big swims from Luca Urlando, Elliot Woodburn, and Ethan Ekk. We also reflect on broader trends: are midseasons are becoming intentionally low-key, and Herbie’s vision for a more meaningful midseason format sparks real conversation.

Casey and Dez break down all the key midseason invites, the top teams to watch, and the swimmers primed for big drops heading into the fastest stretch of the fall. We debate whether the current midseason format has gotten stale, look at Tennessee’s bracket-style meet, and hit the biggest storylines on both the men’s and women’s sides. We wrap with our DFL of the Week picks and the swims that have impressed us most so far.

Casey and Dez dive into the action from the Raleigh Rumble and a packed weekend across college swimming. From the new dual-meet format to standout performances in Cal-Stanford Pt. 2, Louisville-Kentucky, and ASU-USC, they debate whether these changes are improving or confusing the sport. Plus, thoughts on the new NCAA meet structure and why Caleb Dressel might actually be on board.

Casey and Dez break down a packed weekend in college swimming — from ASU, Cal, and Stanford’s West Coast showdown to UVA-UNC and Texas-Tennessee duels. Is Cal’s men’s era ending? Can ASU deliver more at NCAAs? Plus, Florida-Georgia meet and what early results reveal about shifting NCAA power dynamics.

Casey and Dez dive into all the action from the Georgia Tech Dual Meet Tournament — from Kaii Winkler’s standout performances to the intense Minnesota vs Auburn showdown. They break down standout swims, and what this new dual-meet format reveals about the current NCAA landscape. Plus, early predictions on which programs are trending up heading into midseason.

Casey and Dez recap the Georgia Tech Dual Meet Tournament — breaking down key matchups, standout swims, and what this new format means for college swimming. From upsets to strategy, we dive into how this weekend reshaped the NCAA picture.

Casey and Dez break down the new NCAA meet rule changes and what they mean for the sport. From early dual meet highlights — Indiana vs Florida, UVA’s depth check, ASU, and Horizon League standouts — to debates on suiting, NIL in swimming, and Texas’ international-heavy roster, we take an unfiltered look at where college swimming is headed.

In our debut episode, Casey and Dez kick off the DFL Swimming Podcast with a full NCAA season preview. We break down the top teams, big transfers, standout summer performances, and key storylines shaping men’s and women’s NCAA swimming. From upset predictions to returning dominance, we dive into what fans should watch for this year in college swimming.