Tomorrow marks one of the most important days of the NCAA cross country season, as nine Regional Championships unfold across the country and the final pieces of the national picture begin to take shape. 

With perennial powers and high stakes on every course, Oklahoma State, Virginia, and Oregon are looking to hold off a contingent of valiant challengers as they look to book their place on the starting line in Columbia later this month. 

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Midwest: Oklahoma State & Iowa State Set For Rematch On Cowboys' Turf

The last time the top-ranked Cowboys and third-ranked Cyclones met, it was on the rolling hills of Rim Rock Farm, and it was dominance at its finest for the 'Pokes', who toppled the preseason No. 1 by a wide margin, 20-43.

Led by Brian Musau, who guided five Cowboys into the top seven in Lawrence less than two weeks ago, Dave Smith's squad put all five scorers ahead of Iowa State's third runner, a clear reminder that an off-year in 2024 was nothing more than a fluke.

This Friday, as two programs jockeying for a national title meet again, they're doing it on Oklahoma State's home course, the Greiner Family Cross Country Course. Coming off a tough loss and facing a second shot in Stillwater, the 'Clones will have to find a way to out-maneuver the Big 12 champs on a course the Cowboys know better than anyone.

In addition, three other programs ranked in the latest FloTrack College XC Rankings will aim to make their case and position themselves for an at-large bid unless chaos strikes, with No. 29 Missouri, No. 30 Oklahoma, and No. 31 Tulsa joining the field.

Southeast: Wake Forest Eyeing Upset Bid On Fourth-Ranked Virginia

It is safe to say we have great racing ahead at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville. The fourth-ranked Virginia Cavaliers are looking to continue their winning streak and take down 11th-ranked Wake Forest for the second time in two weeks.

Led by Gary Martin, the Cavaliers have one goal on Friday. They want to punch their ticket to the NCAA Cross Country Championships and finish their 2025 campaign unbeaten at Panorama Farms.

That will not be easy. The Demon Deacons arrive with plenty of momentum and a red-hot Rocky Hansen, who is coming off his first ACC cross country title.

A pair of other ACC foes in No. 15 Virginia Tech and No. 20 North Carolina will also be in the mix, along with Eastern Kentucky, who sits No. 26 in our latest rankings.

West: Can Oregon's Depth Out-Match Washington State's Low-Sticks

A few weeks back, it was a flock of Oregon Ducks that made light work of the Big 10 Conference Championship, as Abdel Laajel, Evan Bishop, and Aiden Smith helped Jerry Schumacher's squad hoist the B1G trophy for the first time in program history in their second year since joining the conference.

The Ducks took down hosts Michigan State, 36 to 68, and looked comfortable as they turned their focus on their biggest threat this weekend, old Pac-12 foe No. 13 Washington State.

The Cougars, who raced in their second and final West Coast Conference Championship meet last month, were led by national title contender Solomon Kipchoge, who has already run 22:24.7 on the national championship course.

Along with Evans Kurui and Josphat Meli, the distance-focused program will be one of Oregon's biggest challenges of the fall and will either take down last year's West Region runner-ups or come incredibly close.

Just like No. 19 CBU and No. 21 Stanford, the Cougars are going hunting this weekend, but their target has proved difficult to catch in years past.

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