KU debaters are top-ranked team in the country
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas debate team of Rose Larson, Milwaukee, and Luna Schultz, Houston, ended the fall semester as the top-ranked team in the country, according to the 2025-26 College Policy Debate Rankings.
The ratings are based on a mathematical algorithm that calculates rankings based on accumulated head-to-head results for all tournaments in the fall semester. The data set for the rankings this semester is based on the evaluation of 556 teams and 3,770 debates.
The top-10 teams for the fall semester represent, in rank order: KU, the University of Michigan, Emory University, Northwestern University, Georgetown University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, California State University-Long Beach, the State University of New York and the University of Iowa.
Scott Harris, the David B. Pittaway Director of Debate at KU, said, “Rose and Luna had an incredible semester that ranks as one of the best performances in the history of the program.”
The KU duo competed in five tournaments and compiled a record of 46 wins and five losses. They won both the Franklin R. Shirley Debate Tournament at Wake Forest University and the Baird Debate Tournament at the University of Iowa. They finished third at both the J.W. Patterson Debate Tournament at the University of Kentucky and the Jesuit Debates at Gonzaga University. They started the semester with a fifth-place finish at the Owen L. Coon Memorial Debates at Northwestern University.
Larson and Schultz are 12-4 against teams ranked in the top 10 and do not have a losing record against any of them head-to-head.
“We’re very excited about this ranking and so grateful for our wonderful coaches, teammates, and supporters that made this possible,” Larson said.
“Debate is a whole team affair,” Schultz said. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without all of Kansas behind us.”
KU Debate has two other teams ranked in the top 20, as Owen Owings, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Zach Willingham, Topeka, are the 12th-ranked team in the country, and Brooklynn Hato, Overland Park, and A.J. Persinger, Lawrence, are the 13th-ranked team.
A fourth KU team, Claire Ain, Overland Park, and Max Ulven, St. Paul, Minnesota, are ranked 21st.
“We are very proud of the performance of our teams so far this season, but, as Coach (Bill) Self would say, we must ‘keep loading the wagon,’ because there are a lot of debates ahead of us in the spring semester,” said Brett Bricker, KU’s head debate coach.
Last year the KU team of John Marshall, Lawrence, and Graham Revare, Shawnee, finished No. 1 in the postseason 2024-25 College Policy Debate Ratings, while Larson and Schultz finished last year as the 12th-ranked team.