Top Cross Country Teams Get First Big Test 

By Adam Schneider of DyeStat 

This weekend the majority of country's top college cross country teams meet Friday at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Cross Country Invitational. Usually, the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota and the Greater Louisville Classic in Kentucky are the big meets this weekend.

The Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational moved up two weeks on the schedule to open a spot on the calendar for the Pre Nationals meet Oct. 13. Teams want at least one chance to run in Madison, which is hosting the NCAA Championships on Nov. 17.

Last year, No. 1 Northern Arizona dominated (50 to 123 over Portland) at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and proved that it could repeat as the national champion. Third-ranked Portland, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 6 Colorado, No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Boise State and No. 9 Wisconsin show how deep this year's edition will be.

Second-ranked BYU and Furman, and Notre Dame will compete at Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and No. 4 Stanford and UCLA battle at the Stanford Invitational. 

Big meets this weekend include: 

Sept. 28 - BYU, Furman and Notre Dame hosts Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational

Sept. 28 - Northern Arizona, Portland, Iowa State, Colorado, Alabama, Boise State, Wisconsin, Colorado State, Southern Utah, Washington State, Iona, Air Force, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Princeton, North Carolina State, Illinois, Michigan, Villanova, Penn State, Georgetown, Indiana, Columbia, and Eastern Kentucky, at Nuttycombe Wisconsin Cross Country Invitational

Sept. 29 Campbell at Upstate Invite

Sept. 29 Utah State and Columbia at Paul Short Invitational

Sept. 29 Middle Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky at Greater Louisville Classic

Sept. 29 Portland and Boise State at Willamette Invite

Sept. 29 Stanford and UCLA at Stanford Invitational

Top 20 (preseason)

1. Northern Arizona (1) at Nuttycombe 

2. BYU (2) at Notre Dame Joe Piane 

3. Portland (3) at Nuttycombe/Willamette Invite

4. Stanford (4) at Stanford

5. Iowa State (5) at Nuttycombe

6. Colorado (6) at Nuttycombe/Stanford

7. Alabama (7) at Nuttycombe 

8. Boise State (13) at Nuttycombe/Willamette Invite

9. Wisconsin (9) at Nuttycombe 

10. Syracuse (17)

11. Colorado State (10) at Nuttycombe

12. Oregon (8) 

13. Southern Utah (11) at Nuttycombe

14. Washington (12) 

15. Arkansas (14) 

16. Virginia (NR)

17. Mississippi (NR)

18. Middle Tennessee State (16) at Greater Louisville

19. Washington State (18) at Nuttycombe

20. Oklahoma State (NR) at Nuttycombe  

Watch List - UCLA (19), North Carolina State (20), Campbell (15), Illinois, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Air Force, Furman, Iona, Michigan State