NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is back.

Here is the preseason edition of the 2026 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings, as released on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). It’s just in time for the start of the season, which begins Tuesday, September 1.

Regional Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams’ strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. Teams with provisional status within the region may be ranked.

Regional Championships Friday set for November 13. That’s when we’ll learn which two teams from each region will automatically qualify for the upcoming 2026 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 21, in Terre Haute, Indiana.

All USTFCCCA polls and rankings are presented by AthleticNET.

Great Lakes Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Notre Dame

In The Hunt: No. 3 Butler, No. 4 Michigan State, No. 5 Michigan

Notes: Wisconsin is projected to win its first regional title since 2022 come November. The Badgers, who finished third at the meet last year, return four All-Region athletes including top-ten men Christian de Vaal (seventh) and Liam Newhart (eighth). Wisconsin’s runners also took big steps during the track season with six returners improving their 5k PRs between 15:23 and 15:40. Defending champion Notre Dame is expected to snag the other automatic bid. The Irish welcome back four of its top-five runners, all of whom finished in the top-20 last year. Butler, Michigan State, and Michigan round out the top-five teams in the preseason.

Mid-Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Princeton, No. 2 Georgetown

In The Hunt: No. 3 Villanova, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Navy

Notes: How they finished in 2025 is how they’ll start in 2026, as Princeton and Georgetown headline the Mid-Atlantic Region with Villanova, Penn State, and Navy nipping at their heels. The defending champion Tigers were the only team with seven All-Region finishers and return five of those seven athletes, namely fourth-place man Jacob Nenow. Defending individual regional champion Birhanu Harriman will lead the Hoyas, but he won’t be alone. Look for Luke Ondraceck and Quinn Parrish to be right up there with him, as well as Wake Forest transfers Joe O’Brien and Daniel Winter, who were both top 20 in the Southeast Region last year.

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Iowa State

In The Hunt: No. 3 Tulsa, No. 4 Kansas, No. 5 Missouri

Notes: Oklahoma State and Iowa State treated fans to a barnburner last year, as the Cowboys topped the Cyclones by just three points for their fourth regional title in the past five years. OSU is projected to win yet again thanks to depth that features three of the top-12 finishers at last year’s NCAA Championships. Iowa State hopes to dash the Cowboys’ hopes of a three-peat. The Cyclones, who last won the regional title in 2018, welcome back three top-ten athletes from last year and fared well in the transfer portal during the offseason. 2022 regional champion Tulsa, Kansas, and Missouri round out the top-five teams in the preseason. 

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 New Mexico, No. 2 Colorado

In The Hunt: No. 3 Northern Arizona, No. 4 BYU, No. 5 Air Force

Notes: New Mexico is projected to repeat as champion in the nation’s toughest region. The Lobos, who ran away with the 2025 crown by 30 points, return three athletes who finished among the top-ten individuals last year in Evans Kiplagat (second), Vincent Chirchir (fourth), and Collins Kiprotich (seventh). New Mexico also added several talented newcomers, including SEC mile and 3k champion Drew Rogers. Colorado is expected to nab the region’s second automatic qualifier, a two-spot improvement on where it finished in 2025. Six of the top-seven finishers from that squad return – five of whom were All-Region. The Buffaloes also made a splash with their recruiting class. Northern Arizona, BYU, and Air Force round out the top-five teams in the preseason and are expected to contend for automatic bids come November.

Northeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Harvard

In The Hunt: No. 3 Providence, No. 4 Iona, No. 5 Cornell

Notes: Two-time defending champion Syracuse sits atop the rankings in the preseason. The Orange might have lost four of its top-seven athletes from a year ago, but those athletes who return in 2026 stood out on the track, namely low stick Benne Anderson. Harvard, ranked second, has sights on just its second regional title in program history. The Crimson welcomes back its entire roster, including Sam Burgess and Tam Gavenas, both of whom finished top five in 2025. Charlie Ortmans stepped up on the track, lowering his 10k PR to 28:21.97. Providence, Iona, and Cornell round out the top-five teams in the preseason.

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Georgia

In The Hunt: No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Lipscomb

Notes: Two-time defending champion Alabama tops the rankings in 2026. The Crimson Tide ran away with the title last year and with four top-15 athletes coming back plus the addition of several talented recruits, it’s easy to see why it’s projected to do so again. Georgia, which last won a regional title in 2013, is projected to earn the region’s second automatic bid and matches its best preseason rank in program history. The Bulldogs return two All-Region athletes in Conner Rutherford (tenth) and Ryan Olree (16th). Florida, Tennessee, and Lipscomb round out the top-five teams in the preseason.

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 2 Tulane

In The Hunt: No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Stephen F. Austin, No. 5 Texas

Notes: Even years treat Arkansas pretty well and the program is projected to win its first regional title since 2024. The Razorbacks, who won in 2022 before that, return a wealth of talent from a team that finished two points behind Tulane last year, including three top-five athletes. Arkansas also added several athletes in the offseason, giving it even more depth. The Green Wave welcome back four of its top-five runners, namely Bernard Cheruiyot and Silas Kiptanui, who finished second and third last year. Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas round out the top-five teams in the preseason.

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 2 Eastern Kentucky

In The Hunt: No. 3 Louisville, No. 4 Virginia Tech, No. 5 North Carolina

Notes: Wake Forest and Eastern Kentucky placed first and second at the Southeast Region Championships last year and that’s where they’ll begin 2026. Defending individual champion Rocky Hansen and ninth-place finisher Charlie Sprott return for the Demon Deacons, as does NCAA top-50 harrier JoJo Jourdan. The Colonels welcome back two top-ten finishers in 2025 – Taha Er Raouy and Brian Kimutai – and added several strong transfers in the offseason. Louisville, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina round out the top-five teams in the preseason. 

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Washington State

In The Hunt: No. 3 California Baptist, No. 4 Stanford, No. 5 Arizona

Notes: Oregon had gone 11 years between regional titles before it won last year, but is not expected to wait that long again. The Ducks roost above the preseason rankings with a loaded roster at their disposal, featuring a pair All-Americans and three distance champions from the Big Ten in Connor Burns (indoor 5k), Tayson Echohawk (outdoor 5k), and former Washington Husky Evan Jenkins (outdoor 10k champ). Washington State, which returns just about everybody from 2025, sits second in the preseason. The Cougars will be led by Solomon Kipchoge and Evans Kurui and added several talented newcomers in the offseason. California Baptist, Stanford, and Arizona round out the top-five teams in the preseason.