CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Fifteen Atlantic Coast Conference teams have earned spots in the 2026 NCAA Cross Country Championships set for Saturday, November 21, at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. The ACC will be represented by 10 women’s programs and five men’s teams.
 
The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be televised on ESPNU and the ESPN App beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
 
Eight ACC teams – six women’s and two men’s – were named as at-large selections to the NCAA Championship field following strong showings at the regional meets on Friday, November 13, and in the regular season. Seven other teams – four women’s and three men’s - earned automatic spots in the NCAA Championships by placing first or second in their respective regionals during Friday’s competition.
 
Eight individuals from ACC programs also earned individual bids to the NCAA Championships following outstanding efforts in the regional meets. Pitt leads the ACC with three individual bids, including a pair of men’s runners. The Panthers will be represented by Andrew Bitsko, Luke Simpson and Maureen Cheruiyot. Also representing ACC schools will be Duke’s Finlay Ross-Davie, Louisville’s Elsingi Kipruto and Nickson Kogei, North Carolina’s Caden Leonard and Stanford’s Julia Flynn.
 
The full list of teams and individuals participating in the 2026 NCAA Cross Country Championships can be found HERE.
 
ACC at the 2026 NCAA Cross Country Championships
Women’s Teams
Boston College (AQ)
Clemson
Duke
North Carolina
NC State (AQ)
Notre Dame (AQ)
SMU (AQ)
Syracuse
Virginia
Virginia Tech
 
Women’s Individuals
Maureen Cheruiyot, Pitt
Julia Flynn, Stanford
 
Men’s Teams
Notre Dame (AQ)
Stanford
Syracuse (AQ)
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest (AQ)
 
Men’s Individuals
Finlay Ross-Davie, Duke
Elsingi Kipruto, Louisville
Nickson Kogei, Louisville
Caden Leonard, North Carolina
Andrew Bitsko, Pitt
Luke Simpson, Pitt