Razorbacks No. 9 nationally among 2025 preseason rankings
FAYETTEVILLE – Preseason rankings for the 2025 cross country season have the Razorbacks ranked No. 9 (FloTrack) and No. 20 (USTFCCCA) nationally, No. 1 in the South Central Region, and second in the SEC.
Arkansas, in its 18th season with Chris Bucknam as the men’s head coach, has reached the podium in four of the past five NCAA Championships. The Razorbacks were third in 2024 after placing fourth in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
In the preseason rankings posted by FloTrack, Arkansas is ranked No. 9. In addition, Razorbacks mentioned among the top ranked individuals include Ben Shearer (32) and Timothy Chesondin (34).
Iowa State is ranked No. 1 by FloTrack with the top 10 consisting of BYU, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Stanford, Virginia, Arkansas, and Wisconsin.
Additional SEC schools ranked among 31 schools listed are Alabama (22), Georgia (25), and Tennessee (26).
In the USTFCCCA national poll, Iowa State is ranked No. 1 and followed by New Mexico, Oklahoma State, BYU, Wisconsin, Virginia, Stanford, Notre Dame, and Oregon among the top 10.
SEC programs in the USTFCCCA poll include Alabama (11), Arkansas (20), Ole Miss (27), and Oklahoma (29). Also receiving votes are Tennessee, Missouri, and Georgia.
Arkansas headlines the preseason regional rankings in the South Central for the 13th time since 2012. Tulane is ranked No. 2 and followed by Texas, Texas A&M, and Incarnate Word.
The Razorbacks have finished either first or second in the South Central Region meet for the past 12 consecutive years with eight titles and four runner-up finishes in earning automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships.
Voting by conference coaches placed Arkansas second in the SEC preseason poll with a pair of first-place votes. Alabama, receiving 10 first-place votes, led the field with 16 points followed by 29 for the Razorbacks.
The top five teams included Ole Miss (58), Missouri (61), and Oklahoma (63) with one first-place vote each for the Rebels and Sooners. Tennessee, who will host the SEC Championships, is ranked sixth ahead of Texas A&M, Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas among the top 10 teams.
Arkansas will open the season at the Chile Pepper Festival held at Agri Park on October 4.
