2023 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 3

NEW ORLEANS – They’re not slowing down!

Here is the newest edition of the NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2023 season, as released on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). 

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 10. That’s the last stop before athletes and teams #RunPanorama at #NCAAXC23 on Saturday, November 18 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Great Lakes Region

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

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

Note: There were no changes to the top-5 teams.

Mid-Atlantic Region

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

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

Note: Navy and Penn State ascended the rankings in Week 3. The Midshipmen improved one spot from No. 4 to No. 3, while the Nittany Lions went from No. 7 to No. 4. Navy was buoyed by strong, back-to-back performances at the Virginia Invitational and the Paul Short Run. Penn State beat Navy in a tiebreaker at the Paul Short Run this past weekend.

Midwest Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Drake, No. 4 Loyola Chicago, No. 5 Tulsa

Note: Oklahoma State tops the Midwest Region, but there were several changes from Nos. 2-5. Iowa State, Drake and Loyola Chicago all leapfrogged Tulsa in Week 3. The Cyclones are still riding a wave of momentum from their strong finish at the Virginia Invitational. The Bulldogs beat the Ramblers head-to-head at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational. The Golden Hurricane finished sixth at the Lakefront Invitational behind Drake and Loyola-Chicago.

Mountain Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Air Force, No. 4 Colorado, No. 5 New Mexico

Note: New Mexico slots in at No. 5, following several strong outings.

Northeast Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Iona, No. 4 Yale, No. 5 Northeastern

Note: Both Yale and Northeastern surged three spots from Week 2. The Bulldogs won the team title in the Men’s College Gold 8k at the Paul Short Run, while the Huskies finished a clear runner-up to Harvard at the Battle in Beantown.

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Florida State

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Ole Miss, Auburn

Note: Florida State made the biggest move this week, going from No. 4 to No. 2. The Seminoles finished a game runner-up to Notre Dame at the Joe Piane Invitational and secured a head-to-head victory over third-place Alabama in the process.

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 Incarnate Word

Note: Texas A&M leapfrogged Tulane by the transitive property. Put your math caps on! The Aggies trumped Auburn at the Battle in Beantown this past weekend (fifth to sixth) and the Tigers handily beat the Green Wave earlier this season at the Southern Showcase.

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Virginia

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Eastern Kentucky, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 5 NC State

Note: Eastern Kentucky and Wake Forest both leapfrogged NC State in Week 3. The Colonels and the Demon Deacons finished right next to each other at the Virginia Invitational two weeks ago (EKU was tenth; Wake Forest was 11th), while the Wolfpack were a distant fourth at the Joe Piane Invitational this past weekend (NC State finished just three points out of fifth place).

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 California Baptist, No. 2 Stanford

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 4 Portland, No. 5 Washington

Note: There were no changes to the top-5 teams.