2024 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – Let’s get to racing!

Here is the newest edition of the NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2024 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.

Regional Championships Friday is set for November 15.

Great Lakes Region

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

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

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 in Week 1.

Mid-Atlantic Region

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

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

Notes: Both Penn State and La Salle leapfrogged former No. 4 Navy into the top-5. The Nittany Lions were a distant runner-up at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational to Northeast No. 1 Syracuse, while the Explorers matched Villanova point for point at the Temple Owls Invitational, but finished third due to the tiebreaker.

Midwest Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Tulsa, No. 4 Loyola (Ill.), No. 5 Bradley

Notes: Bradley jumped from No. 9 to No. 5 after winning the team title at the Hawkeye Invitational two weeks ago. The Braves trumped Iowa Western CC, which had beat NCAA DI South Dakota State one week later for the team title at the Augie Twilight.

Mountain Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 New Mexico, No. 4 Colorado, No. 5 Montana State

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 in Week 1.

Northeast Region

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

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

Notes: Syracuse leapfrogged Iona for the No. 2 spot thanks to its convincing win at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational hosted by Penn State. The Orange put four of their top-5 runners in the top-8, including individual champion Sam Lawler. Iona, Providence and Yale all posted victories this past weekend as well to cement their standings in the top-5.

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Ole Miss

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Florida State, No. 5 Auburn

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 in Week 1.

South Central Region

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

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

Notes: Hello, TCU! The Horned Frogs leapt from No. 13 all the way to a program-high No. 4 following a pair of victories to start the season, including one this past weekend in a head-to-head matchup with Texas A&M at the Texas A&M Invitational. TCU beat the Aggies by three points, 36-39.

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 Charlotte

Notes: Virginia jumped from No. 5 to No. 2 after tying top-ranked North Carolina at the Virginia Invitational this past weekend. The Tar Heels won on the tiebreaker, but the Cavaliers put their entire scoring lineup in the top-10. Charlotte found a spot in the top-5 after winning the Michael Byrne Men’s Championship 8k at the Iona Br. Paddy Doyle Meet of Champions.

West Region

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

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

Notes: There were no changes to the top-5 in Week 1.