2025 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 5

NEW ORLEANS – Here is the Week 5 edition of the NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2025 season, as released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Teams from across the country flocked to Illinois this past weekend to compete in the Lewis Crossover to battle it out in a national caliber field one last time before the postseason.

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 Saturday is set for Saturday, November 8.

Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Charleston (W.Va.), No. 2 Shippensburg, No. 3 Davis & Elkins

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 East Stroudsburg, No. 5 Kutztown

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

Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Northwest Missouri, No. 2 Pittsburg State, No. 3 Washburn

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 East Central (Okla.), No. 5 Augustana (S.D.)

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

East Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Southern Connecticut State, No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 3 Franklin Pierce

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 Saint Miachael’s, No. 5 Bentley

Notes: There’s never a dull moment in the East Region. Franklin Pierce clawed their way up from No. 8 to No. 3 following a breakout performance at the Hopkinton Cross Country Festival. The Ravens scored a third place finish with just five seconds separating their 1-3 as they beat Adelphi, 63-123. Saint Michael’s dropped to No. 4, yet topped No. 5 Bentley at the NEICAAA Cross Country Championships in a brewing rivalry. 

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Saginaw Valley State, No. 3 Lewis

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 Walsh, No. 5 Ashland

Notes: No. 2 Saginaw Valley State took care of business against regional foes at the Lewis Crossover, walking away with 137 points and a runner-up finish. The hosts, No. 3 Lewis, remained stagnant. The Flyers landed in seventh place, routing No. 4 Walsh 281-339. In turn, the Cavaliers triumphed over Tiffin and Michigan Tech, without Xavier Foehl, another low stick in their arsenal. 

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Lee (Tenn.), No. 2 Florida Southern, No. 3 Alabama-Huntsville

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 Embry-Riddle (Fla.), No. 5 Tampa

Notes: Embry-Riddle (Fla.) has all the momentum following the UAH Chargers Invitational. The Eagles flew within ten points of No. 3 Alabama-Huntsville, nearly ousting The Chargers, to slide into No. 4 in the South Region. UAH can thank Ahmed Ibrahim for pushing them over the edge with an individual win. No. 2 Florida Southern went north to the Lewis Crossover, taking a crack at a stacked field. With the debut of Christian Giller, the Moccasins flew home a single point off a top-5 finish. 

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Colo. School of Mines, No. 2 Adams State, No. 3 Colorado Christian

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 Western Colorado, No. 5 West Texas A&M

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

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Wingate, No. 2 Anderson (S.C.), No. 3 Catawba

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 Flagler, No. 5 Augusta

Notes: If wins were a stat in cross country, No. 2 Anderson (S.C.) holds the bragging rights in the Southeast Region with two. The Trojans reigned victorious at the UAH Chargers Invitational this weekend, totalling just 47 points in a 26-team field. Meanwhile, No. 4 Flagler tried their luck at the Lewis Crossover. The Saints slotted in 14th with 385 points, overthrowing a few nationally ranked teams in the process.

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Western Washington, No. 2 Chico State, No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona

Also in the Hunt: No. 4 Northwest Nazarene, No. 5 Alaska Anchorage

Notes: For weeks, Western Washington and Chico State avoided the inevitable. That is, until the Lewis Crossover. The two powerhouses met at last to hash out their positions at the top of the West Region. Led by Stan Brakstad, the Vikings completed their conquest for the No. 1 spot, beating the Wildcats 153-190. How? Try a 14 second spread across the top-4 guys in a nearly 400 person field. Anchorage Alaska ascended to No. 5 on the basis of their Lewis Crossover performance. The Seawolves handled Biola (Calif.), 307-459.