KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's cross country team received votes in the 2026 NAIA Men's Cross Country Preseason Top 25, marking the highest national ranking appearance in program history.
The Firehawks were among 15 programs listed in the receiving votes category and enter the 2026 season with national recognition following a historic 2025 campaign. UT Southern's appearance in the preseason poll comes on the heels of the program's best-ever finish at the Southern States Athletic Conference Championships, where the Firehawks placed second and established themselves among the conference's top contenders.
The recognition reflects the continued growth of the program under Head Coach Justin Watson, who enters his seventh season leading the Firehawks. With more than half of last season's roster returning, UT Southern heads into the fall with significant momentum and aspirations of competing for conference and national postseason opportunities.
Cumberlands (Ky.) claimed the top spot in the preseason poll after finishing third at the 2025 NAIA National Championship. Indiana Wesleyan, Southern Oregon, Milligan, and The Master's rounded out the top five.
For the first time in program history, the Firehawks enter a season receiving recognition in the NAIA Men's Cross Country Preseason Top 25, further emphasizing the progress made by the program in recent years.
2026 NAIA Men's Cross Country Preseason Top 25
1. Cumberlands (Ky.) [10] – 542
2. Indiana Wesleyan [7] – 540
3. Southern Oregon – 522
4. Milligan (Tenn.) [1] – 499
5. The Master's (Calif.) [2] – 486
6. Corban (Ore.) – 436
7. College of Idaho – 434
8. Marian (Ind.) – 405
9. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) – 404
10. Trinity Western (B.C.) – 395
11. Taylor (Ind.) – 357
12.Madonna (Mich.) – 355
13. Eastern Oregon – 353
14. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) – 345
15. Saint Mary (Kan.) – 334
16. Goshen (Ind.) – 323
17.Park (Mo.) – 280
18. Rio Grande (Ohio) – 225
19. Carroll (Mont.) – 200
19. Doane (Neb.) – 200
21. Mid-America Christian (Okla.) – 164
22. Cornerstone (Mich.) – 153
23. Montreat (N.C.) – 135
24. St. Francis (Ill.) – 123
25. Spring Arbor (Mich.) – 117
Receiving Votes
IU East (Ind.), UT Southern, Aquinas (Mich.), Northwest (Wash.), Dordt (Iowa), Columbia (Mo.), Oklahoma City, Ave Maria (Fla.), Haskell Indian Nations (Kan.), Oregon Tech, Kansas Wesleyan, Benedictine (Kan.), Concordia (Neb.), John Brown (Ark.), Mount Mercy (Iowa).
UT Southern opens the 2026 season on Sept. 4 at the JSU Foothills Invitational in Oxford, Alabama. The Firehawks will look to build on last year's historic success as they pursue an SSAC championship and a berth in the NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship on Nov. 20 in Vancouver, Washington.
FOLLOW THE FIREHAWKS
Tap in with everything happening around UT Southern Athletics and keep up with the Firehawks all season long.
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/utsathletics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utsouthernathletics
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UTSouthernFirehawks
Scores, highlights, announcements, behind-the-scenes content, and more — stay connected and rep the Firehawks everywhere you go. Go Firehawks!
