Mid-Season Rankings Review for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia: Teams 16th-25th

SAN ANTONIO, TX (JANUARY 7, 2025) – With the 2025 new year being celebrated last week, it also means we’ve reached the halfway mark for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. To this point in the season, a total of over 35 points eligible events have been contested nationwide. This includes major national tournaments to state championships, as well as school-run local, regional events. These events have put hundreds of the top college bass fishing teams in the country on the water competing for valuable points to count towards college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system.

As this current season is at its midway point, the Association of Collegiate Anglers is set to release and review the latest points update to the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Over the next three days, the ACA will be releasing a series of articles highlighting the teams ranked in the Top 25. This series of articles will highlight teams’ success this past fall, while also looking at their Pre-Season ranking entering the current campaign. Many schools are vying for the opportunity to finish the season ranked inside the Top 25, and one school will come away with the overall title as Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Here is a look at the teams currently ranked 16^th – 25^th:

16) Blue Mountain Christian University – Pre-Season Rank: 15

17) Murray State University – Pre-Season Rank: 12

18) Catawba Valley Community College – Pre-Season Rank: 18

19) Lander University– Pre-Season Rank: 8

20) Missouri State University – Pre-Season Rank: 23

21) Emmanuel University– Pre-Season Rank: 13

22) King University – Pre-Season Rank: N/A

23) Northwestern State University – Pre-Season Rank: 55

24) Bryan College – Pre-Season Rank: 17

25) Murray State College – Pre-Season Rank: 25

At the halfway point in this current season, teams ranked 16-25 in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia are separated by just under 3,500 points, and maintaining the high National Ranking can be important when attracting sponsors, as well as school funding.

Leading up to this current season, the ACA conducted its annual Pre-Season Poll, with anglers, coaches, and media members voting to rank the top teams in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Of the teams currently ranked 16-25, eight of the 10 were selected inside of the Top 25 for the 2024-25 ACA Pre-Season Poll. Two schools are outperforming their pre-season ranking, four are currently ranked lower, and two are matching their expected ranking based on the voting. Northwestern State University was selected 55^th to enter the year, and King University had no votes in the Pre-Season Poll. Those two schools have outperformed early expectations and had a stellar beginning to the season.

Being ranked in the Top 25 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is a major goal and accomplishment for college bass fishing teams all throughout the year.  To achieve a Top 25 ranking, teams must display a great deal of consistency and success throughout a complete 12-month season. Among this group of 10 teams ranked 16-25, there are numerous major victories and Top 10’s that have been secured by anglers from these teams. Garrett Smith & Andrew Blanton from 19^th ranked Lander University won the Bassmaster College Series National Championship. 21^st ranked Emmanuel University, who was ranked 1^st overall in the first points update of the year, had two Top 5 finishes at that same tournament on Lake Hartwell. From major national tournaments to local School-Run/Other events, this group of teams has had many great finishes to receive valuable points.

Teams currently ranked 16-25 can climb into the Top 10, or even Top 5, with strong showings throughout the spring. Bryan College is the only team in this group to have previously won the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.