USTFCCCA NCAA DI Program of the Year – 2023 Final Update

NEW ORLEANS – Every place in every sport mattered.

BYU’s men and Arkansas’ women were named the John McDonnell Men’s Program of the Year and the Terry Crawford Women’s Program of the Year, respectively, for the 2022-23 academic year. The Cougar men claimed its first-ever honor, while the Razorback women captured the program’s second-straight award.

The USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Championships.

In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Championship in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points … 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award winner. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.

Men’s Story

A very close battle among the top three programs found BYU winning its first-ever men’s award by 0.5 points with 25.5 POY points as Arkansas (26) and Washington (27) were next. Oklahoma State (36.5) was fourth, while Texas and Wisconsin (37.5 apiece) tied for fifth.

BYU – runner-up in the POY tabulation by 0.5 points two years ago – won by a scant 0.5 points. The Cougars started off the year strong with a third-place finish in cross country, then tied for 12^th in indoor track & field and finished off with a 10^th place outdoors.

The Razorbacks – three times a winner of the award named for their legendary coach John McDonnell – were runner-up for the fourth time in award history. Arkansas followed up a 23^rd-place finish in cross country by winning the indoor crown and finishing second outdoors.

Washington reached a program high, finishing third with 27 POY points – just 1.5 points away from winning. The Huskies – whose previous POY finish was fourth in 2016 – were 14^th in cross country before reaching the podium indoors with a fourth-place finish and taking 9^th outdoors.

Oklahoma State had 36.5 POY points to finish fourth, just a couple notches below their program high of second in 2014. The Cowboys were second in cross country on a tiebreaker, tied for sixth indoors and tied for 27^th outdoors.

Tying for fifth with 37.5 points were Texas and Wisconsin. The Longhorns – winners of this award last year – were 18^th in cross country, tied for sixth indoors and finished 13^th outdoors. The Badgers reached their highest since taking second in 2013 after finishing sixth in cross country, 16^th indoors and tying for 15^th outdoors.

Women’s Story

Arkansas earned the women’s title with 25 POY points, finishing 4.5 points ahead of Oregon (29.5) with Texas another 4.5 points back (34). Three programs tied for fourth – Alabama, Notre Dame and Stanford (37.5 each).

It was a second-straight award for the Razorbacks in the year for head coach Lance Harter. After a 21^st-place finish in cross country, Arkansas had two podium finishes – winning the indoor title and taking third outdoors.

Oregon’s runner-up finish was its highest since 2019, when they won a record 10^th POY award. The Ducks were 14^th in cross country and tied for 11^th indoors before a podium finish in fourth outdoors.

Texas was third – just off their program high of fourth in 2011 – and matched Arkansas with two podium finishes, winning the outdoor crown after finishing 2^nd indoors and starting off the year with a 31^st-place finish in cross country.

Alabama’s tie for fourth was its highest since being third in 2021. The Crimson Tide were third in cross country, tied for seventh indoors and tied for 25^th outdoors.

Notre Dame earned a program high in tying for fourth; their previous best was seventh in 2016. The Fighting Irish were seventh in cross country, tied for seventh indoors and tied for 22^nd outdoors.

Stanford’s tie in fourth was their highest since finishing second in 2012 and 2014. The Cardinal were 13^th in cross country, fourth indoors and tied for 20^th outdoors.