Four Men's Teams to Watch in the 2026 NCAA Cross Country Season
The upcoming NCAA cross country season is expected to be highly competitive, with several top teams vying for the championship title. In this article, we take a closer look at four men's teams that could define the season: the Louisville Cardinals, the Oregon Ducks, the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Iowa State Cyclones.
The NCAA cross country season is just around the corner, and with the transfer portal and eligibility madness in full swing, it can be challenging for fans to keep track of the latest roster developments. As we kick off our coverage of the 2026 campaign, we highlight four men's teams from the Power 4 conferences that have caught our attention.
## ACC: The Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals have been a consistent presence in the ACC, but they have yet to win a conference championship in men's cross country. This year, however, they have a retooled roster brimming with talent, led by low-stick Elsingi Kipruto, who finished 39th at the NCAA cross country championships last year and earned All-American honors. Kipruto's teammate, Geoffrey Kirwa, is coming off an impressive outdoor track campaign, highlighted by a NCAA #2 all-time mark in the 3000m steeplechase.
| Team | 3000m Steeplechase Time | | --- | --- | | Geoffrey Kirwa | 8:08.10 | | Elsingi Kipruto | - | | Nickson Kogei | - | | Kelvin Kipleting | - |
The Cardinals' Kenyan top four of Kipruto, Kogei, Kirwa, and Kipleting should be enough to propel them to their second consecutive national championship berth. However, their performance will likely depend on the consistency of their fifth man, whether that's 14:12 5000m runner Spenser Wolf or someone else.
## Big Ten: The Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks have been a powerhouse in the Big Ten, winning 10 of the 12 championships they have competed in since joining the conference. This year, they have a projected lineup that boasts both elite top-end talent and depth to spare. Led by two top-35 returners from last year's NCAAs, Simeon Birnbaum and Aiden Smith, the Ducks will also be joined by incoming Canadian recruit Xavier Perras-Phaneuf, who has a laundry list of impressive performances on both the track and grass.
| Team | 5000m Time | | --- | --- | | Xavier Perras-Phaneuf | 13:33 | | Aiden Smith | 13:22 | | Simeon Birnbaum | 13:39 | | Beni Balazs | 8:17 | | Connor Burns | 13:39 |
The Ducks' roster is rounded out by University of Washington transfer Evan Jenkins, 2025 Big Ten Indoor 5000m champion Connor Burns, and Tayson Echohawk, who has a personal best of 13:39 in the 5000m. If 21-year-old Irish star Nick Griggs joins the team in the coming months, the Ducks could be a serious contender to win the NCAA title.
## SEC: The Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers have been in a rebuilding phase since the summer of 2024, but coach Justin Duncan finally has a roster capable of getting the Volunteers back to the big dance. Led by Moroccan Zouhair Redouane, a former CBU and Texas Tech runner who finished 26th at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships, the Volunteers also have a promising young core, including Scot Oliver MacDonald, who ran a 13:54 while redshirting, and Liam Conway, who set a massive 7:50 personal best in the 3000m at this summer's World U20 Championships.
| Team | 3000m Time | | --- | --- | | Liam Conway | 7:50 | | Oliver MacDonald | 13:54 | | Noah Harris | - | | Victor Kipkoech | 13:43 |
The Volunteers have also added Kenyan transfer Victor Kipkoech, who gives them another potential star up front and could be integral to their chances of making it out of the South Region.
## Big 12: The Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones had a tough season in 2025, but they return five of their top seven from NCAAs and have added Kenyan transfer Justine Kipkoech, who holds personal bests of 3:32 in the 1500m, 7:38 in the 3000m, and 13:24 in the 5000m. The Cyclones' lead finisher in 2025, Robin Kwemoi Bera, looks to be in line to earn his third cross country All-American honor after an outdoor campaign where he set a personal best of 13:15 in the 5000m.
| Team | 5000m Time | | --- | --- | | Robin Kwemoi Bera | 13:15 | | Justine Kipkoech | 13:24 | | Meshack Kimutai | 28:02 | | Rodgers Kiplimo | 27:52 | | Joash Ruto | 8:20 |
The Cyclones have a talented roster, but they will face stiff competition from the other top teams in the Big 12.
