Tradition, rivalry and schedule foretell national powers will see each other annually. Yearly pad-poundings between Auburn and Alabama, Florida and Florida State, and Louisville and Kentucky often have monumental outcomes—but not out here, not on the water. Most powerhouse schools have not yet joined the National Collegiate Bass Fishing series in only its second year of existence. The University of Oklahoma has a team, but only Florida Community College at Jackson and Webber International University represent the Sunshine State.

Out here, instead of 11 players battling 11 players at any given second, it’s each team flipping soft baits and chunking jigs against 50 other schools—two people per team and their bass boat. The National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship (NCBFC) takes place on Lake Lewisville near Dallas, Sept. 27 to 29. It is expected to bring in 100 teams representing 50 schools and universities nationwide to compete for the national title.

North Carolina State returns as the 2007 NCBFC winner. But for them to repeat, the title might be the most “difficult challenge in all of collegiate sports.” That's because in fishing, the proverbial level playing field really is level. There are no highly touted recruits, and no stock-piling of 5-star studs, just a desire to participate in the championship. Going into the championship, Stephen F. Austin State University of Nacogdoches, Texas, is the country's top-ranked fishing team—comparable to this year’s LSU football squad, maybe.