The University of Virginia and Western Washington University claimed the top spots in the preseason USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division I and II Coaches Polls presented by Pocock Racing Shells. The Division III preseason poll will be released at a later date.
Virginia earned 18 first-place votes to top the preseason Division I team rankings. Princeton University received five first-place votes to rank second, while the University of California took the No. 3 spot in the poll and earned one first-place vote. Stanford University and Brown University rounded out the top five. Yale University, which ranked sixth, earned the other first-place vote.
Western Washington University edged out Mercyhurst College for the top spot in the Division II preseason poll. Western Washington received three first-place votes, with Mercyhurst College earning the other two first-place votes. Seattle Pacific University ranked third.
The first regular season USRowing/CRCA polls will be released on March 30. The first USRowing men’s open weight and men’s and women’s lightweight polls of the season also will be released on March 30.
The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association is sponsored by Pocock Racing Shells.
Women’s NCAA Division I Team Rankings
| Team (1st-Place Votes) | Total Votes |
| 1. University of Virginia (18) | 477 |
| 2. Princeton University (5) | 450 |
| 3. University of California (1) | 440 |
| 4. Stanford University | 404 |
| 5. Brown University | 396 |
| 6. Yale University (1) | 369 |
| 7. University of Washington | 316 |
| 8. Michigan State University | 314 |
| 9. University of Southern California | 296 |
| 10. University of Wisconsin | 289 |
| 11. University of Michigan | 260 |
| 12. Washington State University | 202 |
| 13. Ohio State University | 193 |
| 14. University of California at Los Angeles | 183 |
| 15. Clemson University | 150 |
| 16. University of Tennessee | 125 |
| 17. Dartmouth College | 91 |
| 18. Cornell University | 75 |
| 19. Harvard University | 43 |
| 20. University of Texas | 27 |
Not Ranked But Receiving Votes: University of Iowa 24, Oregon State University 22, University of Pennsylvania 21, Northeastern University 19, Columbia University 18, Duke University 13, University of Notre Dame 11, University of Minnesota 7, University of Louisville 4, Indiana University 4, Bucknell University 2, Boston University 2, University of San Diego 1, University of Buffalo 1 and United States Naval Academy 1.
Women’s NCAA Division II Eights Rankings
| Team (1st-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. Western Washington University (3) | 23 |
| 2. Mercyhurst College (2) | 22 |
| 3. Seattle Pacific University | 14 |
| 4. Barry University | 9 |
| 5. Philadelphia University | 4 |
Not Ranked But Receiving Votes: Humboldt State University 2 and Florida Tech 1.