Tate Bacon's Transfer: A Game-Changer for SMU Swimming (2026)

Tate Bacon has announced he will transfer to SMU for his final two seasons of eligibility after spending his undergraduate career at Notre Dame. Bacon arrived in fall 2022 and spent the 2022-2023 season and the 2023-2024 seasons with the Fighting Irish.

Bacon made a huge impact for the Fighting Irish at the 2024 ACC Championships as the men finished 2nd overall. He scored 46 individual points and was highlighted by a 4th place finish in the 200 fly (1:42.25) and a 9th place finish in the 100 fly (45.41).

He went on to qualify for 2025 NCAAs where he finished 33rd in the 100 fly (46.01) and 38th in the 200 fly (1:43.32). He also swam on Notre Dame’s 200 free and 400 medley relays.

Bacon’s Best SCY Times:

• 100 fly: 45.41
• 200 fly: 1:41.76
• 100 free: 43.79

The SMU men joined the ACC this past season alongside Cal and Stanford. The SMU men finished 11th out of 15 teams while Notre Dame was 15th as its men’s swimming program was suspended this past season. Jack Hoagland, former Notre Dame swimmer, led the way for SMU with 35 individual points at ACCs and was the only individual swimmer at 2025 NCAAs.

Based on his best times, Bacon is a huge addition to SMU. He would have been the top butterflyer on the team this past season as Russell Exum led in the 100 fly with a 46.78 and Cotton Fields was the top 200 butterflyer with a 1:43.56. Both Exum and Fields just graduated this past spring so Bacon’s arrival comes at the perfect time.

Bacon’s best time in the 100 fly would have been 11th at 2025 ACCs while his 200 fly would have been 6th. SMU scored zero points in either event this past season.