The indoor track season has just concluded, but the focus is already shifting to the sun-drenched ovals and runways of the outdoor campaign. The stage is set for a thrilling 2026 season, with defending national champions Arkansas and Georgia carrying huge targets on their backs. Meanwhile, BYU's women are assembling a formidable distance corps, and the Oregon Ducks have a rare chance to capture a national title on their home turf for the first time in over a decade. Before the first starting pistol fires this spring, let's dive into three key questions shaping the upcoming outdoor season.

The indoor championships set a high bar. Just weeks ago, the Arkansas men, under new coach Doug Case, powered to their 22nd indoor title with a dominant performance in Fayetteville. On the women's side, Caryl Smith Gilbert's Georgia Bulldogs secured their second straight indoor crown, building on their outdoor victory from last June. These SEC powerhouses enter the outdoor season as clear favorites, but the game changes dramatically.

The outdoor slate introduces new events like the hammer, discus, javelin, steeplechase, and 400m hurdles, which can completely reshape a team's championship potential. Some athletes haven't even contested their premier event yet. This explains why early rankings can be deceptive; a team like Arkansas, known for peaking late, might look entirely different by the time the national championships arrive in May. The battle for the podium is just beginning, and the addition of these technical and endurance events will test every squad's depth.