The Top 5 Ranked Teams in Collegiate Bass Fishing Entering the 2024-25 Season

San Antonio, TX (9/8/2024) – The Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is college fishing’s only all-encompassing national rankings system.  Over the course of a 12-month season, thousands of college anglers representing hundreds of schools compete in dozens of points earning events.  Each year, teams enter the new season with high hopes and the goal of being ranked inside of the coveted Top 25.  To kick off the new season, the Association of Collegiate Anglers has conducted its 4^th annual Pre-Season Poll.  In this third and final article, we will announce the Top 5 ranked teams, as voted upon by anglers, coaches, and media members.

1. University of Montevallo
2. McKendree University
3. Carson-Newman University
4. Auburn University
5. Adrian College

The five teams in this final rankings reveal for the ACA Pre-Season Poll in the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is comprised of some of the historically best teams in all of collegiate bass fishing.  This year’s Pre-Season Poll is the 4^th annual poll that the ACA has conducted.  Each of the five teams ranked in the Top 5 entering the 20024-25 season have been selected in the Top 5 of all four Pre-Season Polls.  The Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia has been awarded for 13 seasons.  Two of the teams in this rankings reveal account for five of those 13 trophies awarded.  The other three teams are seeking their first-ever title this season.

1. University of Montevallo

In 2023, the University of Montevallo achieved a first in collegiate bass fishing history by becoming the first team to ever win the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia three times.  One year later, in 2024, Montevallo added to their legacy by winning the school’s 4^th title.  Entering the 2024-25 season, Montevallo has been selected as number one in the Pre-Season Poll.  This marks the third time that Montevallo has been selected in this position going into a new year (2021, 2022, 2024).  During this upcoming campaign, Montevallo will have an opportunity to continue to re-write the history books.

2. McKendree University

Checking in at 2^nd in the ACA Pre-Season Poll is another team that has won the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia multiple times.  McKendree University has finished the season ranked number one on two different occasions (2019, 2020). Along with the University of North Alabama and the University of Montevallo, McKendree is one of three teams to have claimed two or more titles.  McKendree University finished last season ranked 4^th overall in college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system.  Going into this upcoming season, McKendree has the opportunity to become just the second team ever to win the School of the Year title three times.

3. Carson-Newman University

Like the other teams included in this rankings reveal, Carson-Newman University is selected in the Top 5 of the Pre-Season Poll for the 4^th straight season.  Here is a look at their pre-season rankings over the past four years:

2021: 3^rd

2022: 4^th

2023: 4^th

2024: 3^rd

Over the course of the last five seasons, Carson-Newman has finished the year ranked inside of the Top 10 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia every time.  The team from Jefferson City, TN has achieved its highest end-of-season ranking each of the past two years, as Carson-Newman finished 3^rd in 2023 and 2024.  Throughout the 2024-25 season, Carson-Newman will be seeking to claim its first-ever title.

4. Auburn University

Auburn University has been selected 4^th overall in the 2024 ACA Pre-Season Poll.  Last year, Auburn was selected as the number one team entering the 2023-24 season.  The team’s lowest-ever pre-season ranking is 5^th (2021).  After being selected number one going into last season, Auburn finished the 2023-24 campaign ranked 5^th overall.  Like Carson-Newman ahead of them, Auburn University has never won the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  This upcoming season, Auburn anglers have the opportunity to achieve a history making victory for their college bass fishing club if they were to finish the season ranked number one.

5. Adrian College

Rounding out the Top 5 in this rankings reveal is Adrian College.  After finishing the 2023-24 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia ranked 7^th, college fishing anglers, coaches, and media members voted Adrian College as the 5^th best program in the nation.  Here is a look at Adrian’s past Pre-Season rankings over the last four seasons:

2021: 2^nd

2022: 5^th

2023:3^rd

2024: 5^th

For seven straight years, Adrian College has finished the season ranked inside of the Top 10 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  The program’s highest-ever end-of-season ranking is 3^rd, meaning Adrian will also be looking to claim its first-ever School of the Year title this season.