University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Women’s Cross Country Tabbed Third In ACC Preseason Poll, Men Slot In At Eighth
August 25, 2026 | Cross Country
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Ahead of the 2026 cross country season, the women's program has landed at No. 3 on the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll while the men stand at No.8 as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.
Last season saw the women's cross country program finish third at the ACC Championships with two Tar Heels earning All-ACC honors. On the men's side, the squad finished sixth with an additional two athletes claiming conference honors.
The Tar Heels enter the season coming off another appearance at the NCAA Championships, marking the 20th overall appearance for the women's program and the 12th for the men's. Last season marked the men's fifth consecutive trip to the national championships and the women's fifth appearance in the last six seasons, with the women's team placing 11th overall in each of the last two years.
The team will look to begin the season on September 11 as Carolina travels to Charlottesville, Va. to compete at the Virginia Invitational, set to begin at 8:45 a.m.
2026 ACC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. NC State, 324 (18 first-place votes)
2. Notre Dame, 305
3. North Carolina, 271
4. Stanford, 270
5. Virginia, 253
6. Duke, 219
7. Boston College, 206
8. Wake Forest, 203
9. Virginia Tech, 191
10. Clemson, 169
11. Florida State, 136
12. Louisville, 131
13. Syracuse, 124
14. SMU, 91
15. California, 64
16. Pitt, 55
17. Georgia Tech, 47
18. Miami, 19
2026 ACC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
T1. Syracuse, 269 (6 first-place votes)
T1. Wake Forest, 269 (5 first-place votes)
3. Notre Dame, 234
4. Virginia, 216 (3 first-place votes)
5. Louisville, 214 (1 first-place vote)
6. Virginia Tech, 210 (1 first-place vote)
7. Stanford, 209
8. North Carolina, 206 (1 first-place vote)
9. Duke, 152
10. NC State, 133
11. Florida State, 108
12. Pitt, 107
13. Georgia Tech, 81
14. Clemson, 68
15. Boston College, 65
16. California, 42
17. Miami, 18
Last season saw the women's cross country program finish third at the ACC Championships with two Tar Heels earning All-ACC honors. On the men's side, the squad finished sixth with an additional two athletes claiming conference honors.
The Tar Heels enter the season coming off another appearance at the NCAA Championships, marking the 20th overall appearance for the women's program and the 12th for the men's. Last season marked the men's fifth consecutive trip to the national championships and the women's fifth appearance in the last six seasons, with the women's team placing 11th overall in each of the last two years.
The team will look to begin the season on September 11 as Carolina travels to Charlottesville, Va. to compete at the Virginia Invitational, set to begin at 8:45 a.m.
2026 ACC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. NC State, 324 (18 first-place votes)
2. Notre Dame, 305
3. North Carolina, 271
4. Stanford, 270
5. Virginia, 253
6. Duke, 219
7. Boston College, 206
8. Wake Forest, 203
9. Virginia Tech, 191
10. Clemson, 169
11. Florida State, 136
12. Louisville, 131
13. Syracuse, 124
14. SMU, 91
15. California, 64
16. Pitt, 55
17. Georgia Tech, 47
18. Miami, 19
2026 ACC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
T1. Syracuse, 269 (6 first-place votes)
T1. Wake Forest, 269 (5 first-place votes)
3. Notre Dame, 234
4. Virginia, 216 (3 first-place votes)
5. Louisville, 214 (1 first-place vote)
6. Virginia Tech, 210 (1 first-place vote)
7. Stanford, 209
8. North Carolina, 206 (1 first-place vote)
9. Duke, 152
10. NC State, 133
11. Florida State, 108
12. Pitt, 107
13. Georgia Tech, 81
14. Clemson, 68
15. Boston College, 65
16. California, 42
17. Miami, 18
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