Check out the Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 31 cross country teams in the NCAA this season. The No. 23 spot goes to Cal this year, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

JR Bethan Knights (4:39 Mile; 9:08 3K; 15:51 5K; 25th at '14 NCAA XC)
SO Marissa Williams (4:24 1500; 9:30 3K; 16:19 5K)
FR Stephanie Jenks (4:42 Mile; 10:06 2 Mile; 3x FL XC Finalist)
SR Xochitl Navarrete (9:49 3K; 16:54 5K)
SO Jordyn Colter (2:04 800; 4:41 Mile; 17:00 5K XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Stephanie Jenks via Marion, IA (4:42 Mile; 10:06 2 Mile; 3x FL XC Finalist)
Marissa Dobry via Medford, OR (4:35 1500; 10:27 3200)
Chloe Hansel via Walnut Creek, CA (4:54 1600; 11:04 3200)

Analysis:

The Golden Bears just missed out on making the NCAA championships last year, but 2016 is shaping up to be a more experienced and deep squad.

Cal returns their No. 1 runner and All-American, Bethan Knights, who posted personal bests last season of 4:39 in the mile and 9:08 in the 3K, and a season's best of 15:52 in the 5K. Knights will have some company up front in rising sophomore Marissa Williams. As a freshman last year, Williams qualified to run the 5K at NCAA West, and notched a personal best of 16:19 at the Payton Jordan Invite.

The Bears also have a number of interchangeable parts in a more experienced class paired with talented freshmen. Stephanie Jenks comes to Berkeley with three top-16 Foot Locker finishes to her name, and a 4:42 mile PR. Marissa Dobry comes to Cal after recently running a quality 5K at the Portland Track Festival. In her second track 5K ever, she clocked 17:09 against collegiate competition.

If the Golden Bears can close the gap between the top runners and rising talent of a younger class, they should be able to qualify out of the tough West region.

Previously:
#24 North Carolina
#25 BYU
#26 Virginia
#27 Villanova
#28 Vanderbilt
#29 Texas
#30 Florida
#31 Minnesota