2025 NCAA DI XC National Championships

NCAA Cross Country Championship Picks and Predictions 2025: Who Will Win?

NCAA Cross Country Championship Picks and Predictions 2025: Who Will Win?

The FloTrack team has made predictions for the team and individual titles ahead of the 2025 NCAA XC Championships in Columbia, Missouri.

Nov 21, 2025 by John Davern
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We are less than 24-hours away from the start of the 2025 NCAA XC Championships - and it is time to make championship predictions ahead of the big day.

Our content team has made selections for individual champions, team champions, and team runner-ups. Of course, earlier in the week, we previewed the fields, with specific attention to teams and individuals that we've labeled as contenders.

Women's Predictions


Team Winner

Team Runner-up

Individual Winner

John

NC State

Oregon

Doris Lemngole

Nia

Oregon

NC State

Jane Hedengren

Bryan

BYU

NC State

Doris Lemngole

Dan

Oregon

BYU

Jane Hedengren

David

NC State

Notre Dame

Doris Lemngole

Olu

BYU

Notre Dame

Jane Hedengren

Johnny

BYU

Oregon

Jane Hedengren

Men's Predictions


Team Winner

Team Runner-Up

Individual Winner

John

Oklahoma State

Iowa State

Rocky Hansen

Nia

Oklahoma State

New Mexico

Habtom Samuel

Bryan

Oklahoma State

Iowa State

Rocky Hansen

Dan

New Meixco

Oklahoma State

Habtom Samuel

David

Oklahoma State

Syracuse

Habtom Samuel

Olu

Oklahoma State

New Mexico

Habtom Samuel

Johnny

UNM

OK State

Habtom Samuel

2025 NCAA D1 Cross Country National Championships Schedule

Nov. 22, 2025 

  • Women's Race - 10:20 a.m. ET
  • Men's Race - 11:10 a.m. ET 

How to Watch 2025 NCAA D1 Cross Country National Championships

Stream the Nov. 22 DI XC national championships on ESPNU from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET.

Where is the 2025 NCAA D1 Cross Country National Championships

The 2025 Division I XC national championships will be at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia , Mo.

Which Teams Qualified for the NCAA D1 Cross Country National Championships

Men’s Automatic Qualifying Teams

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Butler
  • BYU
  • California Baptist
  • Eastern Kentucky
  • Georgetown
  • Iona
  • Iowa State
  • New Mexico
  • Notre Dame
  • Oklahoma State
  • Ole Miss
  • Oregon
  • Princeton
  • Syracuse
  • Tulane
  • Wake Forest

Men’s At-Large Teams

  • Air Force
  • Colorado
  • Georgia
  • Harvard
  • Louisville
  • Michigan
  • Michigan State
  • North Carolina
  • Northern Arizona
  • Oklahoma
  • Virginia
  • Virginia Tech
  • Washington State
  • Wisconsin

Women’s Automatic Qualifying Teams

  • Boston College
  • BYU
  • Florida
  • Georgetown
  • LSU
  • NC State
  • New Mexico
  • Northwestern
  • Notre Dame
  • Oklahoma State
  • Oregon
  • Providence
  • South Carolina
  • Stanford
  • Tennessee
  • Texas A&M
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

Women’s At-Large Teams

  • Alabama
  • Boise State
  • Colorado
  • Iowa State
  • Missouri
  • North Carolina
  • Northern Arizona
  • Penn State
  • Utah
  • Villanova
  • Virginia
  • Wake Forest
  • Washington
  • Washington State

How Do Teams, Runners Qualify For NCAA D1 Cross Country National Championship?

For men's and women's, the top two teams in each regional — there are nine in total — automatically qualify for the championships, which equates to 18 automatic qualifiers. 

The NCAA DI Cross Country Subcommittee will then choose 14 at-large teams to fill out the 32 team field.

Individually, the first four finishers who do not belong to an automatic qualifier or an at-large team automatically advance to the championships. All four finishers have to finish in the top 25 within their region. Altogether, 36 individuals automatically qualify and two are chosen at-large, making 38 the grand total. The two at-large selections are the highest placing individuals at a regional that were not automatic qualifiers.

When and Where Is The NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships 2025

The Cross Country Championships are on Nov. 22 at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri.

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