The Big 12 had five teams ranked in the top five of the USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Polls and nine teams named in the top 25. BYU, Colorado and Oklahoma State landed both of their men’s and women’s programs in the polls.
Both of BYU’s programs will begin their national championship defense ranked in the top five. The Cougars’ women’s team begins the season at No. 1 while the men’s program sits at No. 4. It is the first time since 2021 that the women’s team opens the season at the top spot.
Colorado’s men’s team enters the season at No. 13 after finishing at No. 19 in the 2024 NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships. The women’s team will begin the year ranked No. 24.
Iowa State’s men’s team begins the year at the front of the pack for the first time in program history after finishing as national runner-up in 2024. The Cyclones received votes in the women’s poll.
The Cowboys slot in at the No. 3 spot to give OSU its fourth straight year ranked inside the top three to open the season. The Cowgirls earned their fifth straight season inside the top 25 by opening at No. 14.
Utah opens the season at No. 23 with four runners returning from its team that finished 19
th at the NCAA Championships.
West Virginia rounds out the Conference’s rankings at No. 5 in the women’s preseason poll after finishing runner-up in the NCAA Championship last season.
The Big 12 leads all Conferences with three teams in the top five of the men’s poll and two teams in the top five of the women’s poll.
The cross country season begins Friday, Aug. 29. The 2025 Big 12 Cross Country Championship is set for Friday, Oct. 31 and will be hosted by Kansas at Rim Rock Farm.
Big 12 Programs in USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll
Men’s Rankings
No. 1 Iowa State
No. 3 Oklahoma State
No. 4 BYU
No. 13 Colorado
Women’s Rankings
No. 1 BYU
No. 5 West Virginia
No. 14 Oklahoma State
No. 23 Utah
No. 24 Colorado
Receiving Votes: Iowa State