Chris Carter

Cross Country

ACC Cross Country Season to Open Friday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Cross Country season will open Friday, September 4, with eight teams in action. On Saturday, September 5, Syracuse will be the ninth and final ACC team to compete on opening weekend.
 
Pitt and Virginia Tech will both host home meets to open the season, while California, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, SMU, Stanford and Syracuse will each remain in their home state. Pitt will host the Panther Open, while Virginia Tech will host the Virginia Tech Invitational.
 

In the USTFCCCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the NC State women hold the No. 1 spot in the country. The Wolfpack lead an eight-team ACC contingent in the national polls, which also includes No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 9 Stanford in the top 10. On the men’s side, five ACC teams are ranked, led by No. 8 Wake Forest.

 
ACC Cross Country Weekly Schedule
Friday, September 4
California, Stanford – USF Invitational, San Francisco, Calif.
Clemson – USC Upstate Eyeopener, Spartanburg, S.C.
Georgia Tech – Stan Sims XC Opener, Acworth, Ga.
Miami – Florida Intercollegiate Cross Country Invitational, Jacksonville, Fla.
Pitt – Panther Open, Pittsburgh, Pa.
SMU – John McKenzie Invitational, Fort Worth, Texas
Virginia Tech – Virginia Tech Invitational, Blacksburg, Va.
 
Saturday, September 5
Syracuse – Harry Lang Invite, Hamilton, N.Y.
 
Noting ACC Cross Country
  • NC State holds the No. 1 spot in the USTFCCCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Wolfpack women have won four of the last five national championships.
  • Top-ranked NC State leads the ACC’s eight ranked teams in the USTFCCCA preseason poll, followed by No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 9 Stanford, No. 13 North Carolina, No. 15 Virginia, No. 26 Duke, No. 28 Boston College and No. 30 Wake Forest.
  • In the men’s USTFCCCA preseason poll, the ACC has five ranked teams, led by No. 8 Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are followed by No. 13 Syracuse, No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 26 Louisville and No. 27 Stanford.
  • The NC State women were selected as the preseason favorite in the ACC Coaches Poll, while Syracuse and Wake Forest were co-favorites on the men’s side.