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NC State’s First CSL Crown Headlines Week Seven of ACC Swimming and Diving

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

Virginia swimmer Claire Curzan, wearing a black swim cap with pink goggles on her forehead, smiling and waving in a swimming pool

Virginia swimmer Claire Curzan in the pool. Photo: Virginia Athletics.

The ACC turns to the boards this week, with Miami, Stanford and California heading out for diving invitationals while NC State carries the momentum of the first College Swimming League championship and Virginia holds the No. 1 spot in the women’s national poll.

The seventh week of the 2026–27 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming & Diving season kicks off a weekend full of diving-only competition on Thursday, November 12.

Miami and Stanford will travel to Austin, Texas, for the Texas Diving Invitational, while California will head to Los Angeles, California, for the Trojan Diving Invitational.

NC State won the first ever College Swimming League (CSL) Championship title on Friday, November 6, after finishing atop the championship match standings with 519.5 points. NC State’s Eneli Jefimova (50 breast, 100 breast & 200 breast), Max Carlson (500 free), Kaii Winkler (50 free, 100 fly) and Jan Gajda (100 breast) all claimed first place individual finishes, while Winkler, Quintin McCarty, Jerry Fox and Wells Walker teamed up to win the 200 free relay.

Virginia is the No. 1 team in the current CSCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Top 25 Poll, followed by No. 6 California, No. 7 Louisville, NC State and Stanford tied at No. 8, No. 15 North Carolina, No. 21 Duke and No. 23 Virginia Tech. California leads the ACC contingent at No. 3 in the current CSCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Top 25 Poll, followed by No. 7 NC State, No. 8 Virginia, No. 9 Louisville, No. 10 Stanford, No. 12 Virginia Tech, No. 19 North Carolina, No. 23 Notre Dame and No. 24 SMU.

Weekly Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, November 12
Miami & Stanford at Texas (Diving Only) | All Day
California at USC (Diving Only) | All Day

Friday, November 13
Miami & Stanford at Texas (Diving Only) | All Day
California at USC (Diving Only) | All Day

Saturday, November 14
Miami & Stanford at Texas (Diving Only) | All Day
California at USC (Diving Only) | All Day

Noting ACC Swimming & Diving

ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving programs lead the nation with the top marks in the following events: 200 back: Claire Curzan, Virginia (1:46.56); 100 breast: Anastasia Gorbenko, Louisville (57.35); 200 breast: Anastasia Gorbenko, Louisville (2:04.53); 50 fly: Claire Curzan, Virginia (22.42); 100 fly: Claire Curzan, Virginia (49.71); 200 fly: Claire Curzan, Virginia (1:50.10); 100 IM: Anastasia Gorbenko, Louisville (51.43); 200 IM: Teagan O’Dell, Virginia (1:53.63); 400 IM: Katie Grimes, Virginia (4:03.27); 200 free relay: Virginia, 1:24.73; 200 medley relay: Virginia, 1:33.54
ACC Men’s Swimming & Diving programs lead the nation with the top marks in the following events: 200 free: Ryan Erisman, California (1:32.12); 500 free: Ryan Erisman, California (4:08.55); 50 breast: Yamato Okadome, California (23.72); 100 breast: Yamato Okadome, California (51.24); 100 IM: Kaii Winkler, NC State (46.37); 200 IM: Maximus Williamson, Virginia (1:39.39); 200 free relay: NC State, 1:15.00; Platform dive: Ciro Mejia, North Carolina (429.90)
The Virginia women’s swimming program won its record sixth consecutive NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving championship at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
The Stanford women’s swimming & diving program is the only program in the nation to finish in the top 10 in every NCAA championship dating back to the 1975-76 season, most recently finishing as the runner-up in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.
Virginia head coach Todd DeSorbo was named the George Haines Coach of the Year by the American Swimming Coaches Association for the second straight year.
The 2027 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships will take place February 16-20, 2027, at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Benedict Rallies From 24 Points Down to Beat Kentucky State 52-45 in Overtime and Win the SIAC Championship

Published

41 minutes ago

November 15, 2026

KJ Butler

A Benedict receiver in a purple jersey leaps high above a Kentucky State defender to catch the football during the SIAC Championship game.

A Benedict receiver climbs above a Kentucky State defender to pull down a catch during the Tigers' 52-45 overtime win over Kentucky State in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.

Benedict College is a champion again. The Tigers came back from 24 points down on Saturday in Columbia, beating Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime to win the SIAC Championship, the third conference title in program history, and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs came with it.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — November 14, 2026

What started as a competitive conference championship matchup turned into an unforgettable day at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, as Benedict College delivered a remarkable comeback to defeat Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime, capturing its third conference football championship in program history.

With the SIAC Championship on the line, both teams came out ready to compete. The opening quarter featured an evenly matched battle, with both offenses finding opportunities while the defenses worked to establish control. Benedict struck first, taking a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Kentucky State Takes Over

However, the momentum quickly shifted in favor of Kentucky State.

The Thorobreds delivered a dominant second quarter, outscoring Benedict 17-0 before continuing their offensive surge in the third. Kentucky State eventually built a 24-point lead after putting together 31 unanswered points, leaving the Tigers with a mountain to climb.

The Comeback

But Benedict wasn’t ready to surrender its championship hopes.

Benedict's quarterback in a purple No. 3 jersey leaps over a diving Kentucky State defender while carrying the football. — *Benedict’s quarterback hurdles a diving Kentucky State tackler as the Tigers rally in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Tigers found another gear in the fourth quarter, putting together a furious comeback and scoring 24 points in the final period to pull even at 45-45. After trailing by as many as 24 points, Benedict had turned what appeared to be a comfortable Kentucky State victory into a championship thriller.

A Wild Final Minute

The final minute of regulation brought even more drama.

With approximately one minute remaining, Kentucky State punted the ball to Benedict, but the Tigers muffed the return, giving the Thorobreds another opportunity to steal the game. Kentucky State moved into position to score, but Benedict’s defense came up with a crucial stop, keeping the Thorobreds out of the end zone.

Benedict's No. 13 in a purple jersey leaps to catch the football with two Kentucky State defenders closing in and fans behind the sideline wall. — *Benedict’s No. 13 pulls down a catch between two Kentucky State defenders during the championship game. Photo by KJ Butler.*

With Kentucky State out of timeouts, clock management became critical. A delay-of-game penalty with nine seconds remaining resulted in a 10-second runoff, sending the game into overtime. The sequence proved costly for the Thorobreds, as a late-game miscommunication and clock-management mishap ended their opportunity to attempt a field goal before regulation expired.

Overtime Decides It

One more possession would determine the championship.

In overtime, Benedict wasted little time making its opportunity count. Quarterback Glenn Foreman connected with Demetris McKelvey on a touchdown pass, giving the Tigers the advantage and putting the pressure squarely on Kentucky State.

Two Benedict defenders collide with a Kentucky State ball carrier in the end zone, knocking the carrier's helmet into the air, with the Benedict band in the background. — *Benedict’s defense delivers a hit that knocks a Kentucky State helmet loose in the end zone during the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Thorobreds were unable to match the score, and Benedict’s sideline erupted in celebration.

After overcoming a 24-point deficit, surviving a dramatic final minute, and finishing the job in overtime, the Tigers walked away with a 52-45 victory and their third conference football championship in program history.

At Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, fans witnessed a comeback that will forever be remembered.

What Is Next

Benedict’s season rolls on into the NCAA Division II playoffs. The SIAC championship carries the conference’s automatic bid, and the Tigers entered the weekend as the No. 1 team in Super Region Two. Benedict learns its first-round opponent at the NCAA Division II selection show on Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m. ET, with first-round games set for Saturday, November 21.

Kentucky State’s season is not finished either. The Thorobreds close at 8-3 after their first SIAC title game appearance since 2016, and they are expected to land an at-large playoff berth when the bracket is revealed on Sunday night. If their name is called, their first-round game is also Saturday, November 21.