SAN ANTONIO, TX (September 29, 2026) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers’ first double points event of the season to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia was recently contested. More than 630 anglers competed in the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley for more than $40,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as valuable points. More than 50 different schools were on-hand, and 1^st place awarded 1,750 points.

Top ranked Carson-Newman University earned the second most points of any team to compete at Kentucky Lake and extend its 1^st place lead. The University of Montevallo moves up to 2^nd, and Adrian College drops down to 3^rd.

Carson-Newman entered the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley in 1^stplace. The team from Jefferson City, TN had a 310 point lead in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia after the first standings update of the 2025-26 campaign. Following the first ACA double points event of the season, they now lead 2^nd place by 985 points.

Anglers from Carson-Newman earned the 2^nd most points (3,410) of any school to compete at Kentucky Lake, behind 10^th ranked Tarleton State University (3,430). Carson-Newman’s two highest-placing fish finished in 4^th and 7^th overall. Alex Gore finished in 4^th with 6.39 pounds, and Joe Vaulton weighed in a bass going 6.06 pounds to claim 7^th.

23 of the current Top 25 ranked teams competed at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley. 14 of the Top 25 ranked teams in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia improved their ranking from the previous update. Here is a look at several of those teams that made significant moves:

5) Blue Mountain Christian University – Previously Ranked 15^th

8) Drury University – Previously Ranked 17^th

9) Murray State College – Previously Ranked 18^th

10) Tarleton State University – Previously ranked 25^th

11) Bethel University – Previously Ranked 22^nd

13) McKendree University – Previously ranked 19^th

View the complete updated rankings here.

Three teams moved up into the Top 25 after previously being ranked on the outside looking in. Wabash Valley College moved from 28^th up to 12^th. Dallas Baptist University climbed 12 spots from 27^th to 15^th, and Purdue University goes from 32^nd to 17^th.

The next ACA double points event will be the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR on October 11-12. Several regional and major events will happen prior to that event. Look for another points update to be released before competition begins at Lake Dardanelle.