Power Four schools dominate the NCAA. For the most part, the media only focuses on the big names of track and field, but the NCAA Championships aren't reserved exclusively for the sport's biggest programs.

553 spots. 523 entries. 21 events. 1 National Championship.

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Out of the 523 entries, the Power Four schools hold a major showing in entries:

• SEC - 145
• BIG Ten - 101
• Big 12 - 65
• ACC - 54

While the Power Four conferences dominate the entries, several athletes from smaller schools and non-power conferences have earned their place on track and field's biggest collegiate stage.

Here are six underdogs to watch in Eugene.

Ruth White, New Hampshire (Women's 10,000m)

Ruth White has never been afraid to race from the front.

At the East Regional, the New Hampshire sophomore immediately took control of the women's 10,000m, leading much of the race before securing a national qualifying spot with a personal-best 33:08.83.

White is already familiar with the NCAA stage. As a freshman in 2025, she advanced through the East Regional and went on to place ninth at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors.

She enters the 2026 NCAA Championship looking to improve on her ninth-place finish from last year. White is one of five sophomores competing on Thursday night.

Max Hooper, Lipscomb (Men's 1500m)

Max Hooper of Lipscomb brings in the underdog heat on the men's side. The fellow Sophomore headed into the East Regional meet with the 81st fastest 1500m time in the NCAA. He earned his spot at the Regional Qualifier on scratches. Hooper then proceeded to earn the last qualifying time, earning a little "q" with a new PR of 3:39.33. 

This will mark Hooper's NCAA debut. His PR at East Qualifiers puts him at 53rd in the NCAA for the 2026 season, and he will race in the second heat of the 1500m prelims on Wednesday.

Keyshawn Garcia, Stephen F. Austin (Men's 800m)

Keyshawn Garcia went from being ranked 118th to 40th in the 800m at the 2026 NCAA West Qualifiers. He was the lowest-ranked individual to qualify for the NCAA Championships. 

Representing Stephen F. Austin University, he dropped nearly two seconds to earn the second-to-last time NCAA qualifying spot.

Garcia advanced out of the opening round after placing second in the fifth heat, earning an automatic berth to the quarterfinals. There, he found himself in the first heat alongside NCAA leader Rivaldo Marshall.

Marshall led the fastest quarterfinal heat of the day, crossing the line in 1:45.10. Garcia followed in 1:46.54, finishing fifth in the heat. With only the top three finishers from each heat and the next three fastest times advancing to Nationals, Garcia's fate rested on the results of the final two heats.

As the races unfolded, Garcia's time held up. Two heats later, he secured the second-fastest time qualifier and officially earned his place at the NCAA Championships. His new PR puts him as the second-to-last seed in the championship, but with tactical racing on the line, a placing position is not out of the question.

Julia Johannesdottir, Rice (Women's 100m Hurdles)

The sprints underdog comes from the women's 100mH. A sophomore from Rice University, Julia Johannesdottir, comes in seeded as the 30th fastest woman in the NCAA. For reference, only 27 athletes qualified for the Championship. 

At the West Qualifiers, she placed second in the first heat of the prelims, earning herself a spot in the quarterfinals. In the quarter finals, she placed fifth in the first heat. She would need to wait for the following two heats to run in order to learn her fate. After two heats, she had earned the last qualifying spot and booked her ticket to Eugene. 

Now the Rice standout becomes one of the few representatives from outside the traditional power conferences in the women's hurdles field.

Ava Roberts, UMBC (Women's Discus)

Sometimes one throw changes everything, and UMBC's Ava Roberts is one for suspense. Throwing the discus, it was her last throw that secured her the final qualifying spot. It took a PR of 54.37m in her senior year to qualify for her first National Championship. 

A dominant performer in the America East Conference, Roberts has won multiple conference titles during her collegiate career. Now she'll have an opportunity to compete against the nation's best throwers in Eugene.

Ethan Ruffin, FDU (Men's High Jump)

Ethan Ruffin's NCAA journey shows how quickly things can change in one year.

The Fairleigh Dickinson sophomore competed at the East Regional in 2025 but finished 26th in a crowded field.

This season, he returned and produced a breakthrough performance, clearing 2.16m and earning 10th place outright to secure a trip to Eugene.

Representing one of the smallest programs in the championship field, Ruffin enters the NCAA Championships with a chance to cap off one of the most unexpected qualification stories of the season.

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