2022 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 4

NEW ORLEANS – The changes keep coming.

Here is the newest edition of the NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2022 season, as released on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Three regions recognized new No. 1 programs: Mid-Atlantic, South and the South Central following impressive results over the past few weeks.

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.

Remember that Regional Championships Friday is set for November 11. That’s the last stop on the #RunToStillwater, as we’ll know which teams get to compete at the 2022 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 19.

Great Lakes Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Butler, No. 5 Michigan

Mid-Atlantic Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Georgetown, No. 4 Navy, No. 5 Penn

Note: Villanova and Princeton leapfrogged Georgetown into Projected AQ Land. The Wildcats finished a game runner-up to North Carolina at the Paul Short Run, while the Hoyas finished a distant fourth at the same meet. The Tigers stood out at the Cowboy Jamboree two weeks ago.

Midwest Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Illinois, No. 5 Drake

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 BYU, No. 2 Northern Arizona

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Colorado, No. 4 Air Force, No. 5 Utah State

Northeast Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Iona, No. 4 Providence, No. 5 Stony Brook

South Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Ole Miss, No. 4 Florida State, No. 5 North Florida

Note: Tennessee soared to the top of the rankings following a strong effort at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational this past weekend. The Volunteers, who are No. 1 in the South Region for the first time in program history, debuted their full squad and finished runner-up to the Irish. Tennessee was one of two programs with two or more athletes in the top-10. The other is right behind the Volunteers: Alabama. The Crimson Tide finished third at Notre Dame with three runners in the top-10 on the Burke Golf Course.

South Central Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Tulane, No. 5 Arkansas State

Note: This is a case of “What have you done lately? And who have you done it against?” The Longhorns are riding a wave of momentum following a solid performance at the Cowboy Jamboree two weeks ago and jumped Arkansas into the No. 1 spot. The Razorbacks won the team title at the Chile Pepper Festival in a race which featured numerous NCAA DII and NJCAA programs.

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 2 North Carolina

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Virginia, No. 4 Charlotte, No. 5 Furman

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 Gonzaga

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 California Baptist, No. 5 Washington