In just over one month, a new school year will begin. And with that, the Association of Collegiate Anglers will soon begin its 21st season of the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. Also happening in August, ahead of the new season kicking off, the ACA will conduct its annual Pre-Season Poll for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Before that poll is conducted, the ACA is going to publish a three-article series reviewing, and taking a look back at the standings for this past season of college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system.

Here are the teams that finished the 2024-25 race for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia ranked 16th-25th:

1. 16.Emmanuel University (Pre-Season Rank: 13th)
2. 17.Kentucky Christian University (Pre-Season Rank: 22nd)
3. 18.Catawba Valley CC (Pre-Season Rank: 18th)
4. 19.Missouri State University (Pre-Season Rank: 23rd)
5. 20.Southwestern Michigan College (Pre-Season Rank: 33rd)
6. 21.Northwestern State University (Pre-Season Rank: 55th)
7. 22.University of Tennessee (Pre-Season Rank: 16th)
8. 23.Troy University (Pre-Season Rank: 36th)
9. 24.Dallas Baptist University (Pre-Season Rank: 19th)
10. 25.Murray State College (Pre-Season Rank: 25th)

In this feature article, a total of 10 college bass fishing teams are being highlighted. Seven of those 10 programs were selected in the Top 25 for the Pre-Season poll entering the 2024-25 season. Both Catawba Valley CC and Murray State College equaled their pre-season ranking. The 2024-25 season marks the first time in which Murray State College has finished the season ranked inside of the Top 25 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

Teams that exceeded their pre-season ranking include Kentucky Christian University, Missouri State University, Southwestern Michigan College, Northwestern State University, and Troy University. Three of those teams were selected outside of the Top 25 for the ACA’s annual Pre-Season Poll entering this past season:

• Southwestern Michigan College
• Northwestern State University
• Troy University

As this is the first of three articles, the ACA will publish a second article tomorrow highlighting teams that finished this past campaign for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia ranked 6th-15th.