Emmanuel University Tops the First Rankings for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia

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Lander University is ranked 2nd, University of North Alabama sits in 3rd

SAN ANTONIO, TX (9/13/2024) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers provides the first update to the standings for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  College fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system is a 12-month race where teams from all across the country compete in dozens of events nationwide to earn valuable points to finish the year ranked inside of the coveted Top 25, or even possibly win the title.  The first rankings reveal of the current School of the Year race is comprised of results from 11 total events, including two majors and a National Championship tournament.

Emmanuel University is ranked number one in the first standings update for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  Emmanuel has competed in three points qualifying events, earning a total of 4,140 points.  The team from Franklin Springs, GA started its season off strong by earning the most points of any team to compete in the Bassmaster College Series National Championship.  Competing in the event at Lake Hartwell, Emmanuel’s two highest-finishing teams accumulated a total of 3,900 points. Tyler Campbell & Parker Guy finished in 2nd, and Dylan Akins & Chase Carey claimed 5th.  Emmanuel University was selected 13th in the ACA’s Pre-Season Poll entering the 2024-25 campaign.  Coming off of a 17th place finish last season, Emmanuel will be competing to win its first title in program history this season.

Checking in at 2nd place is Lander University.  Lander finished the 2023-24 race in 10th, and was voted 8th in the Pre-Season Poll.  To start last season, Lander University was also ranked number one in the first points update.  This year, Lander is off to a strong start thanks in part to a victory at the Bassmaster College Series National Championship.  Garrett Smith & Andrew Blanton won the event with a three-day total of 49 pounds.  Lander’s next highest-finishing team placed in 12th.  Those two Top 12 finishes earned them 3,780 points.  That points total combined with the results from two School-Run events has netted Lander University 4,050 points.

Rounding out the Top 3 is the University of North Alabama.  UNA’s season total of 3,520 points has them in 3rd for the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  UNA finished the 2023-24 season ranked 2nd, and was chosen as 6th in the ACA Pre-Season Poll.  The two highest-finishing teams for UNA  both placed in the Top 20 at the Bassmaster College Series National Championship.  Nathan Reynolds & Banks Shaw placed 7th, and Dylan Nutt & Carter Nutt took 19th.  UNA is a two-time winner of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia (2014, 2015). A victory this season would make UNA just the second team ever to win the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia three or more times.

View the complete rankings.

Next week, at Kentucky Lake, the ACA will begin its historic 20th season.  The Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley will take place September 21-22.  This will be the first ACA double points event of the 2024-25 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  The ACA will update the points standings following the completion of that event.

To view a complete schedule of points qualifying events, click here.