CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – For the first time in conference history, the Atlantic Coast Conference will send five teams to the 2026 NCAA Rowing Championships, scheduled for May 29-31 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia.

Coming off its second consecutive ACC title, Stanford earned the No. 1 seed in two of the three boat classifications. California, Miami, Syracuse and Virginia received at-large bids, as the five ACC teams are the most among all conferences. The five teams surpassed last year’s league-record mark of four teams advancing, as ACC teams will make up more than 22 percent of the 22-team field.

Nine conferences received automatic qualification, while the remaining 13 slots were filled with at-large selections to complete the championship field. Teams qualifying for the championship are required to field two boats of eight rowers and one boat of four rowers. In the Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four, all 22 boats are seeded into four heats.

Making its 20th appearance, Stanford has won two of the last three national championships, including last season’s title, its first as an ACC member. The Cardinal cruised to their second straight ACC title on Saturday, May 16, winning all five Grand Finals, becoming the first ACC team since Virginia (2015–16) to sweep all championship regatta races in back-to-back seasons. Stanford’s Varsity Eight was named Crew of the Year following the championship.

California, which placed third at the ACC Rowing Championship, earned the No. 7 seed in the Varsity Eight and the No. 10 seed in both the Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four. The Golden Bears are set to compete in their 26th consecutive NCAA Championship.

Miami will make its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Championships after placing fifth at the ACC Championship. Entering the NCAA Championships with its highest national ranking in program history at No. 13, the Hurricanes will be the No. 13 seed in the Varsity Eight, the No. 11 seed in the Second Varsity Eight and the No. 15 seed in the Varsity Four.

Syracuse, which is making its 13th appearance in the NCAA Championship, is coming off a fourth-place finish at the ACC Championship. The Orange earned the No. 8 seed in the Varsity Eight, the No. 9 seed in the Second Varsity Eight and the No. 13 seed in the Varsity Four.

Virginia returns to the NCAA Championships for the 28th time after finishing as the runner-up at the ACC Championship. The Cavaliers earned the No. 6 seed in the Varsity Eight, the No. 3 seed in the Second Varsity Eight and the No. 6 seed in the Varsity Four.

The NCAA team champion is determined by total points earned across all three boat categories. The First Varsity Eight winner earns 66 points, with each subsequent boat earning three fewer (63 for second, 60 for third, etc.). The Second Varsity Eight winner receives 44 points, decreasing by two per position. The Varsity Four winner earns 22 points, with each following team earning one point fewer. In the event of a tie, the higher placing First Varsity Eight breaks the tie.