With the NCAA season rapidly approaching, we decided to come up with our own preseason NCAA Division I Top 25 rankings. First up, we will release the men's rankings -- five teams per day. Next, we will release the women's rankings -- five teams per day.

So how did we create with the rankings?

The Formula

First, we compiled a rankings list of all returning swims in each event from last season. Next, we added the best times from each incoming freshman to the event lists to complete the preseason time projections for each race. From there, the events are scored two different ways: First is a top 50 points system to analyze depth -- starting with the top-ranked team receiving 50 points and descending to one point. Second is the NCAA's top 16 scoring system. Relays are included into this as well. Combining those factors, we found the average of each team to create the final top 25 preseason rankings.

So without further ado...

25) Denver

2017 NCAA Finish: 30th

The team's superstar, Anton Loncar, ranks among that nation's best in the backstroke events. Coming off of a summer that included a World Championship berth while representing Croatia, Loncar will be competing for a top-three finish in March. For a non-Power Five school from the Summit League, Denver has a significant amount of depth. Included in that depth is sprinter Sid Farber and distance swimmer Colin Gilbert. Not many ranked teams can guarantee a conference championship, but Denver will almost certainly do that.

24) Georgia Tech

2017 NCAA Finish: Did Not Score

It's a tricky aspect of collegiate swimming, but there are oftentimes a few teams ranked throughout the year that don't score a point at NCAAs. That's the case with Georgia Tech. Last year, the Yellow Jackets didn't accumulate a single point, but they're starting this season ranked. Senior Moises Loschi ranks fifth among returners with a 1:53.08 in a fairly wide-open 200 breaststroke. Georgia Tech's top recruit, Caio Pumputis of Brazil, has been 2:13 in the 200m breaststroke -- a very solid time that will translate well if he can make the transition to short course yards swimming.

23) Virginia

2017 NCAA Finish: Did Not Score

The Cavaliers are just on the fringe. Virginia's sole returning projected points scorer, Joseph Clark​, is sitting just over the line in the 100 backstroke. The Cavaliers have five more swims within striking distance. First-year head coach Todd DeSorbo was a sprint specialist at NC State but at Virginia will be inheriting a single sprinter ranked in the returning top 50. Don't be surprised to see rapid progression out of UVA sprinters this season.

22) Minnesota

2017 NCAA Finish: 23rd

The Golden Gophers have two swimmers that will hang near the top all year. Sprinter Bowen Becker (19.08 and 42.24 in the 50/100 freestyle) and breaststroker Conner McHugh (52.30 and 1:53.62 in the 100/200 breaststroke) are both poised for success at the championship level as well. Even though Minnesota graduated a large and talented senior class, the Gophers' projected finish at the NCAA Championships is what keeps them ranked.

21) North Carolina

2017 NCAA Finish: 36th

Senior Henry Campbell returns with the seventh-fastest 500 freestyle and ninth-fastest 400 IM. Breaststroker Emslie Craig is also set up to score points at NCAAs. After the three scoring swims, the Tar Heels only have three other returning swims in the top 50. On the bright side, they are looking to nearly quadruple the points they scored a year ago with a couple of A-final swims.

Stay tuned tomorrow for No. 20 through No. 16.

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