What if Noah Lyles ran track in college?

Noah Lyles is the most dominant sprinter in the post Usain Bolt era. And he turned professional immediately after graduating high school and signed a contract with Adidas. But that was before NIL for college athletes was ever a thing. And if it was, he likely would have had no reason to skip college entirely. So what would have happened if he had actually attended college? The answer is wilder than you ever could have imagined.

Freshman Year 

First things first, we already know where Noah Lyles would have attended college. He committed to the University of Florida in the SEC. And only changed his mind on running for the Gators after his performances in the 2016 Olympic Trials. So what would his freshman year have looked like partnering up with Grant Holloway to lead the Gators? In 2017 as a professional he only ran indoors a few times, running the 60 meter dash twice with a seasons best of 6.63, and the indoor 200 meter once finishing in 21.02, and that one was at a collegiate meet. But in reality he would have run both events much more so to figure out how fast he could have run in the 200 especially. He ran the 300m indoors three times that year, the slowest of which was 32.67 and the fastest was 31.87. That time already would have been the NCAA record in the 300 meter and, the fastest 300 meter race in college that year was by Grant Holloway of the University of Florida, in 32.80. For that matter, Florida also had the number 2 recorded indoor 300m, which means that Noah Lyles would have given them the 3 fastest in all of college. His 300m was also 1.22 seconds faster then Kunle Fasasi who also ran the 200m, so we can assume Noah would be at least .6 seconds faster in the 200m with a full season of training. This would have had him run 20.42, good for the second fastest collegiate 200m time in Division 1. And for the record his 6.63 in the 60m would have already ranked him 12th in the nation, good enough to run at the NCAAs.

Florida finished second at the NCAA indoor meet that year, losing to Texas A&M by a half a point. So adding Noah Lyles in the 200m dash should have easily pushed them into the lead for the national title with at least another 8 points. But the outdoor season is really where Noah Lyles would have set the collegiate track world on fire. Because in 2017 Noah Lyles ran 19.90 in the 200m into a minus headwind, in the month of May. And his best recorded 100m was a highly wind aided 9.95. That 100 meter still rates well enough, even with the wind taken into account for him to make the NCAA meet in the 100m, obviously. But that 200 meter performance is better than the top ranked time of 19.96 which was run with a slightly illegal wind of 2.1 meters per second. Noah Lyles would have dominated the Outdoor 200m, and likely made the 100 meter final at the NCAA championships. But Florida already won the 2017 outdoor meet in reality, by two points. So adding Noah Lyles, even if it were just in the 200 meter alone would have given them the meet running away.

 Sophomore Year

As a sophomore in 2018 Noah could have duplicated his actual times of 6.57 in the indoor 60 meter, 9.88 wind legal in the 100 meter, and 19.65 wind legal in the 200 meter dash outdoors. And that 200 meter performance would go down as the collegiate record. With the assumption that his 200 meter is .5 seconds off of his outdoor 200, a rough approximation many sprinters use as a benchmark, he could ran as fast as 20.15 potentially. He would have projected fourth in the indoor 60 meter at nationals, second in the indoor 200m, but won the double championship in the 100 meter and 200 meter outdoors. Florida already won the indoor meet, even without Noah’s help, that would have been three straight titles. But they lost the outdoor meet originally by 10 points. But with the king of the track, Noah Lyles to lead them, they could have won by 10 points instead, making it four straight championships for the Gators.

 Junior Year

In 2019 as a Junior Noah only ran outdoor races in reality. But he ran 9.86 wind legal, and 19.50 into a minus headwind in the 200m. Florida already won the 2019 indoor meet anyway, so they didn’t even need his help there. Yet in the Outdoor season they lost once again by 10 points. Divine Oduduru ran 9.86 at the national meet in reality, so even if Lyles had lost, it is safe to assume he would be no worse than second. But the 200 would have been Lyles race to run away with, giving an additional 18 points to the Gators, and making it six straight championships.

 Senior Year

And in 2020 there famously was no indoor or outdoor national meet in NCAA track and field leaving Noah the option to return for one final season with the Gators in 2021. But by now he would get to join forces with Joseph Fahnbulleh. Assuming that a full season preparing for the 60m and 200m he would have been at least as fast as his sophomore year. He would have placed about fourth in the 60 meter. But would have ran away with the 200 meter title. But in 2021 Florida lost the indoor meet, by a lot. Even adding his 15 points to their total would have placed them no higher than third. But outdoors that year he ran 9.95 in the 100 meter and 19.52 in the 200 meter. This would still have him in line to compete to win the 100 meter title, finishing at least fourth, but to run away with the 200 meter once again, going 1 and 2 for Florida with Joseph Fahnbulleh. Florida would eventually lose the meet, too far back for the addition of Lyles to raise them higher than third.

 The Bottom Line

So the answer to what would have happened if Noah Lyles went to college, is that he would have broken 2 individual collegiate records. Won at least 1 100 meter outdoor title, and 1 indoor 200 meter title. But as far as the 200 meter dash outdoors is concerned he would have gone undefeated in the NCAA championships, four times in a row. And he would have made Florida men’s track and field, into a dynasty for the ages with six back to back indoor and outdoor national titles. Noah Lyles is already one of the greatest sprinters the world has ever seen. But if he went to college, he would undoubtedly be the greatest one that the NCAA has ever known.

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