Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. And, be sure to watch our LIVE FloXC Podium Reveal Show Tuesday September 12th at 10AM CT. The No. 8 men's spot goes to Wisconsin, and here's why:

Probable Top Four:

SR Morgan McDonald (3:55 Mile; 7:51 3K; 13:15 5K; 7th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Joe Hardy (3:43 1500; 13:59 5K; 15th at '17 NCAA Outdoor 5K; 65th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Olin Hacker (8:06 3K; 13:59 5K; 66th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Ben Eidenschink (8:19 3K; 14:13 5K; 29:56 10K; 157th at '16 NCAA XC)

Fifth Man Battle:

SO Zack Snider (8:06 3K; 14:00 5K; 29:48 10K)
SO Oliver Hoare (3:43 1500; 14:47 5K; 227th at '16 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Finn Gessner via Madison, WI (4:12 1600; 8:47 3200; 2nd at '16 FL XC)
Seth Hirsch via Omaha, NE (4:14 1600; 8:55 2 Mile; 14:25 5K; 3rd at '16 FL XC; 4th at '16 NXN)
Noah Jacobs via Corunna, MI (4:14 1600; 8:55 3200; 14th at '16 FL XC; 1st at '16 NBN 2 Mile)
Tannor Wagner via Green Bay, WI (1:55 800; 4:10 1600; 8:57 3200)

Analysis:

The 2016 cross country season was a story of redemption for the Wisconsin men, who failed the year before to qualify for the NCAA XC championships for the first time since 1971. An older, more experienced group of Badgers regrouped last fall to not only earn back their spot at the championship, but break into the top 10 with an eighth-place, 256-point performance.

The Badgers lose just one scoring runner from that redemption performance: three-time All-American Malachy Schrobilgen, who ran No. 2 in 25th place last year.

Top runner Morgan McDonald, seventh last year, returns after representing Australia in the IAAF World Championships 5K and lowering his PB to 13:15 this summer; he's considered one of the individual title favorites along with 2016 NCAA XC runner-up Justyn Knight of Syracuse, who ran in the world 5K final for Canada.

Fellow senior Joe Hardy is another seasoned veteran, having competed twice before at the NCAA XC championships with a career best placement of 66th. Yet he is also much improved, having lowered his 5K PB to a hair under 14 minutes this spring. He ran every step in Terre Haute last fall with redshirt freshman Olin Hacker on his shoulder.

Ben Eidenschink, Tyson Miehe, and Oliver Hoare ran in the No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7 spots at NCAAs last year, and it's reasonable to assume they would hold their positions. Yet the Badgers brought in one of the nation's top recruiting classes with the likes of cross country heavyweights Finn Gessner and Seth Hirsch, runner-up and third place respectively at Foot Locker Nationals in 2016, as well as track national champion Noah Jacobs and sub-nine performer Tannor Wagner. Most of the group is likely to redshirt this fall, but we wouldn't be surprised to see one sneak into the top seven or even the scoring five.

FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE