Following an incredibly hectic weekend that was highlighted by the record-breaking Nuttycombe Invitational, the first weekend of October racing added even more chaos to the season.

The Midwest was a hotbed for high-caliber racing, with the likes of the Joe Piane Invitational, Lehigh Paul Short Run, and the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invite all playing host to elite performances that shook up the FloTrack College XC Rankings presented by HOKA.

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After a big-time win at the Joe Piane Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, Texas Tech's Ernest Cheruiyot was one of the two movers inside the top-20.The Red Raider star took down a competitive field loaded with All-Americans, running 22:20 for a big 8k PB and the win.

Alabama's Victor Kiprop moved up a few spots from No. 15 to No. 13 after finishing runner-up at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational in 22:43, his quickest time since last October. 

Outside of a few single-place jumps, the bulk of the top-20 looks the exact same as it did a week ago.

Defending national champion Graham Blanks of Harvard maintains his spot at the top as we patiently await his senior debut, while recently-crowned Nuttycombe champion Parker Wolfe (UNC) stayed put at No. 2.

Oklahoma State's Brian Musau and Denis Kipngetich came in at No. 3 and No. 5 again, while New Mexico's Habtom Samuel split them up at No. 3.

Texas Tech's duo of Solomon Kipchoge and Cheruiyot sit No. 6 and No. 8, while Arkansas' Patrick Kiprop and Yaseen Abdalla rank No. 7 and No. 9.

Oklahoma State's third runner in the near the top is Victor Shitsama, who rounds out the top-10.

Aside from Iowa State and Northern Arizona swapping places, the top-5 teams are the same as they were a week ago.

The defending champion Oklahoma State Cowboys stayed put at the top, while Arkansas, BYU, Iowa State, and NAU round out the top-5. 

Following their hard-fought wins at the Joe Piane Invitational and the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invite, both Notre Dame and Wisconsin stayed in the top-10, as the Irish and Badgers come in at No. 7 and No. 10. 

Wake Forest, New Mexico, and North Carolina fill out the top-10 at No. 6, No. 8, and No. 9.

The biggest mover of the weekend hails from Riverside, California, as the Cal. Baptist Lancers finished third at the Joe Piane Invitational behind Notre Dame and NAU.

After finishing runner-up by a mere four points behind Wisconsin, the Alabama Crimson Tie moved all the way up to No. 12 following their breakthrough performance in the 'Windy City'.

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