2022 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – Conference Championships Weekend hit different.
Here is the newest edition of the NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll that was released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Twelve teams saw their rank change by six or more spots, either in the upward or downward direction based on their performances this past weekend during their conference meets.
Remember that this poll is conducted by counting votes from 11 member coaches – one from each of the division’s nine regions (who also do the regional rankings) – as well as two members from the NCAA Cross Country Executive Committee.
NCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Stanford
Stanford
2
BYU
BYU
3
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona
4
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State
5
Air Force
Air Force
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
The top-5 teams didn’t budge, because they handled business: No. 1 Stanford crushed the field at the Pac-12 Championships, scoring just 22 points with M-F National Athlete of the Week Charles Hicks leading the way with his individual title; No. 2 BYU made quick work of the WCC Championships once again with Casey Clinger breaking the tape first; No. 3 Northern Arizona dominated the Big Sky Championships with a 19-point score; No. 4 Oklahoma State cruised to another Big 12 title on a sloppy course in Lubbock, Texas; No. 5 Air Force defended its Mountain West crown in a big way, sweeping the top-3 spots on the podium.
No. 6 Tulsa led a group of teams in the top-10 – and one outside of the top-15 – that improved its standing. The Golden Hurricane went from No. 7 to No. 6 following a win at the American Athletic Conference Championships. Wake Forest climbed from No. 8 to No. 7 after capturing its first ACC title since 1994. Wisconsin snagged its 53rd Big Ten title in program history and moved from No. 9 to No. 8. Colorado finished runner-up to the Cardinal at the Pac-12 Championships and is now ranked No. 9. Syracuse vaulted six spots from No. 16 to No. 10 thanks to its runner-up effort at the ACC Championships.
Three other teams who are now in the top-20 saw their stock rise six spots: North Carolina is now No. 12 following a third-place showing at the ACC Championships; Washington mushed from No. 20 to No. 14 thanks to its third-place performance at the Pac-12 Championships; Alabama is now ranked No. 16 after winning its first SEC title since 2009.
Arkansas and Harvard, who are both tied at No. 22, as well as No. 27 Gonzaga and No. 27 Iowa State joined the poll after handing out in the Land of Receiving Votes last week.
Mark you calendars for Saturday, November 19, because that’s when the 2022 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships will be held at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Oklahoma. You’ll be able to watch both championship races uninterrupted on ESPNU beginning at 10 am ET. Full steam ahead on the #RunToStillwater!
