National Poll: Many of the Top Teams in Division I in Action This Weekend

NEW ORLEANS – Summer’s end has ushered in fall and that means collegiate cross country will start to really cook. Many of the squads in the latest national NCAA Division I poll of U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will compete this weekend and several head-to-head matchups will be among the highlights. Wisconsin’s men and Washington’s women remain the top teams in the country as voted by the nation’s coaches.

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The top five men’s teams stayed intact from the previous week’s poll as No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 3 BYU, No. 4 Oklahoma, and No. 5 Portland occupy their former standing. Texas moved up a spot to No. 6 to match their season-best ranking.

Arkansas is the biggest gainer in this week’s update. The Razorbacks gained five spots in their launch to a season-high standing at No. 17. New Mexico at No. 21 and Eastern Kentucky at No. 25 also hit season bests this week. Virginia makes their season debut on the poll at No. 27.

Once again the Pac-12 leads all conferences with five teams in the national top 30. The Big East and Big Ten have four in the top 30 while the Big 12 and ACC each have three.

Washington and Florida State retain their hold to the top two spots in the women’s poll. Washington has been at No. 1 for three straight weeks. The top six teams did not change from a week ago, but there was shuffling to the bottom of the top ten. Providence shifted back up to No. 7 while Villanova has reached a season-best-No. 9 ranking.

After defeating three ranked teams last week in claiming the title at Toledo’s BracketBuster Invitational, Butler went from unranked to a debut spot at No. 21. The Bulldogs are in the poll for the first time since 2006.

Columbia, placed at No. 24 in the poll, is ranked for the first time since 2005. No. 29 Wisconsin returns to the ranks after receiving-votes outside of the top 30 for the past two weeks.

The Big East and Pac-12 tally five teams in the women’s top 30. The Big Ten and ACC follow with four apiece.

All but a handful of nationally-ranked teams will be in action this weekend. On the men’s side, ten of the top 30 is scheduled to compete at the Notre Dame Invitational, headed by No. 10 Florida State, No. 11 NC State, and No. 14 Texas A&M. The Greater Louisville Classic will feature four ranked teams and three in the top ten, including No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 6 Texas, and No. 8 Iona. Oklahoma State’s Cowboy Jamboree will include the No. 2 Cowboys and in-state rivals – No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 20 Tulsa. No. 3 BYU and No. 5 Portland will be in action at No. 23 Oregon’s Bill Dellinger Invite.

The women’s featured slate includes the Greater Louisville Classic where seven ranked teams are scheduled, including No. 1 Washington, No. 8 Vanderbilt, and No. 10 Arkansas. No. 2 Florida State will be in action against four other ranked squads at the Notre Dame Invite. No. 3 Oregon will host the Bill Dellinger Invite while No. 4 Georgetown will face off against No. 7 Providence and No. 9 Villanova at Lehigh’s Paul Short Run. No. 5 Iowa State travels to Minnesota’s Roy Griak Invitational where they are expected to go against No. 16 Weber State.