2022 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 5

NEW ORLEANS – A big weekend means big changes.

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). There is a new No. 1 program in the Great Lakes Region, as well as several other changes dotting the respective regions.

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 Notre Dame, No. 2 Wisconsin

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

Note: Notre Dame leapfrogged Wisconsin into the No. 1 spot after posting a head-to-head victory at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational. The Irish finished fifth in a tough field, two spots ahead of the host Badgers.

Mid-Atlantic Region

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

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

Midwest Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 South Dakota State, No. 5 Loyola Chicago

Mountain Region

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

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

Northeast Region

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

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

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

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 2 Virginia

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 NC State, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 5 Charlotte

Note: Wake Forest and Virginia went head-to-head at the XC23 Invitational and finished in that order with scores of 47 and 68, respectively. The Cavaliers jumped to No. 2 following that effort thanks to potential depth issues being resolved behind a miniscule 16-second, 1-5 spread.

West Region

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

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

Note: Portland vaulted to No. 2 after a sterling performance at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational this past weekend. The Pilots debuted their top squad in Madison, Wisconsin, and finished 11th with several big wins to their credit, including head-to-head victories over No. 3 Oregon and No. 5 Washington.