2022 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 6

NEW ORLEANS – Conference Championships Weekend was a blur.

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 and several others noticed multiple changes in their respective top-5s.

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, No. 4 Butler, No. 5 Michigan State

Note: Wisconsin is back at No. 1 after winning its 53rd Big Ten crown in program history. The Badgers cruised to the team title with 25 points and allowed Mick Byrne to tie Martin Smith for the most titles won by a coach in the conference annals. Notre Dame slid to No. 2 following a disappointing fourth-place showing at the ACC Championships.

Mid-Atlantic Region

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

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

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 Alabama, No. 2 Tennessee

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

Note: Alabama leapfrogged Tennessee by virtue of its title-winning performance at the SEC Championships this past weekend. The Crimson Tide won a thrilling battle for the team title as the top-four teams all finished within six points of each other. Alabama put three runners in the top-7 – its entire scoring five in the top-30 – as it scored 59 points for its first title since 2009.

South Central Region

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

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

Note: Arkansas is back at No. 1 after a close third-place effort at the SEC Championships. Texas also finished third, but at the Big 12 Championships, 38 points behind winner Oklahoma State.

Southeast Region

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

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

Note: If these results look familiar, it’s because they should: Wake Forest won the team title at the ACC Championships, while North Carolina finished third behind runner-up Syracuse (not in this region) with NC State fifth and Virginia sixth.

West Region

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

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

Note: Washington vaulted three spots from No. 5 to No. 2 thanks to a third-place finish at the Pac-12 Championships, where it beat Oregon head-to-head. The Ducks held steady at No. 3.