Although it seemed like it was just yesterday that we were looking ahead to the first races of the 2024 season, we're already barreling down the homestretch. 

Over the next two days, conferences across the DI landscape will see their brightest stars battle it out once again as they all hope to be the ones to heading with trophies and bragging rights.

Let's take a look at the top contenders and storylines in the Big 12, SEC, ACC, Big East and Big 10.

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Pair Of Top-Five Matchups Headline 2024 Big 12 Championships

Arguably the most competitive conference across the collegiate landscape, the new-look Big 12 is set to have multiple national contenders battling it out at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco, Texas. 

Following their jaw-dropping win at Pre-Nationals, BYU is the women's team to beat this weekend, but a surging West Virginia (No. 5) and proven Utah (No. 9) are both going to give Diljeet Taylor's squad everything they've got. Individually, BYU's top trio of Lexy Halladay-Lowry, Carmen Alder, and Jenna Hutchins is surely going to be toward the front, but Texas Tech's Juliet Cherubet is looking to take down the Cougar trio this time around and spoil their chance of a sweep.

The men's race has three of the top five teams in the country, including the defending national champions Oklahoma State. The top-ranked Cowboys will get to see both No. 3 BYU and No. 4 Iowa State tomorrow, giving fans a preview of what's to come next month. Led by Denis Kipngetich and Brian Musau, Dave Smith's team is in good hands as they prepare for their biggest test of the year.

Texas Tech's duo of Solomon Kipchoge and Ernest Cheruiyot are both contenders for an individual title, along with BYU's Casey Clinger and Iowa State's Robin Kwemoi Bera.

Alabama's Doris Lemngole, Arkansas' Patrick Kiprop Both Eyeing First SEC XC Title

There's always the possibility of surprises in a conference as competitive as the SEC, but Alabama and Arkansas are both in perfect positions to coast to a conference title. 

Despite Hilda Olemomoi making the move to Florida, the Crimson Tide are as dangerous as ever. Top-ranked Doris Lemngole has not lost a race since early May, and she's been untouchable on the grass this fall. Lemngole is one-third of 'Bama's three-headed monster, with Brenda Tuwei and Pheline Cheruto joining the national champion to make up the best top three of any team in the U.S.

No. 17 Florida and No. 20 Arkansas are set to battle it out for runner-up, but it would take a big-time day for either program to keep up with Alabama. 

On the men's side, Arkansas has yet to show all of their cards, but after a stifling win at Pre-Nationals, rumor has it that's what they're gearing up to do in College Station, Texas. Patrick Kiprop, Yaseen Abdalla and Kirami Yego are all running at their highest levels, and their depth and potential additions only make them more potent. 

13th-ranked Alabama and 27th-ranked Texas are the only other programs in the field ranked in the FloTrack College XC Rankings presented by HOKA, and Alabama will be the biggest threat to get in the way of Arkansas' championship aspirations. 

Notre Dame Hopes To End NC State's Title Streak, Parker Wolfe Set To Defend 2023 Title

For the first time in a long time, No. 12 NC State is not favored to win the ACC title, but instead sixth-ranked Notre Dame is the team to beat, as the Irish have already toppled NC State once this fall at Pre-Nationals, 216-293. Though the Wolfpack sport a strong 1-2 punch in Hannah Gapes and Grace Hartman, there is still uncertainty throughout the rest of the top five, leaving the door open. Notre Dame's Siena Chisholm and Emily Covert are two more names to keep an eye on, as well as No. 13 North Carolina's Brynn Brown.

In total, there are eight ranked women's programs set to clash tomorrow morning, with No. 16 Florida State, No. 21 Virginia, No. 22 Stanford and No. 27 Syracuse will look to add a little bit of chaos.

After a breakthrough race at Pre-Nationals, the Stanford men are hoping to get their ACC tenure off to a good start and bring the trophy back to Palo Alto, California.

Cole Sprout has ran 23:10 or faster in both of his races this season, and with the quartet of Lex Young, Leo Young, Thomas Boyden and Paul Bergeron, the Cardinal has as good of a top five as anyone else in the country. However, No. 8 Wake Forest and No. 10 Notre Dame aren't going to let the former Pac-12 power waltz in and dominate.

No. 11 Syracuse, No. 12 North Carolina and No. 15 Virginia are all in the running as well, but it's going to be an uphill battle. 

Since storming to his first ACC title a year ago, North Carolina superstar Parker Wolfe has simply been on a tear, adding three All-American honors and a national title to his trophy case. One of the top contenders for an NCAA crown next month, it's hard to picture any successful challengers, but the likes of Wake Forest's Rocky Hansen, Notre Dame's Carter Solomon and fellow Tar Heel Ethan Strand are going to have the best shot to do so alongside Stanford's top men.

Husky Women, Badger Men Stand Alone As Favorites At Big 10 Championships

After adding the likes of Oregon and Washington among others over the summer, the Big 10 is even more competitive than it was a year ago. 

The Washington women head into their first Big 10 Championship as the No. 4 team in the country following a series of big-time performances at the Zimmer Championship Course in Wisconsin. The Huskies won the Nuttycombe Invitational and finished runner-up at Pre-Nationals, taking down every in-conference foe they've faced. With Chloe Foerster at the front and a tight-knit Husky pack behind her, it'll take near-perfect races from Wisconsin and Oregon if they want to take down Washington. 

In addition to Foerster and her Husky squad, Penn State's Florence Caron, Oregon's Maddy Elmore and Minnesota's Ali Weimer are a few additional contenders who could break the tape in Illinois.

For Mick Byrne and the Wisconsin men, they're heading into another conference championship as the team to beat, and we'll find out soon if No. 30 Oregon or No. 20 Washington can match the Badger's depth in their first taste of Big 10 action. Wisconsin is aiming for their sixth-consecutive title and the 14th overall in the Mick Byrne era. 

Wisconsin's Bob Liking has won the last three Big 10 titles, and he's coming off of a lifetime best at Pre-Nationals, and so far no one in the conference has proven they can give him a run for his money.

Kimberley May, Chloe Scrimgeour Set For High Stakes Rematch

Unlike some of the other top conferences around the NCAA, the Big EAST has a plethora of contenders in both the individual and team races with no signs of anyone pulling away. No. 3 Georgetown and No. 8 Providence already had a gutsy clash at the Princeton Fall Classic this month, one that saw the Hoyas edge out the Friars, 59-65. Although, it was a role-reversal in the individual race as Providence's Kimberley May took down Georgetown's Chloe Scrimgeour in her season debut. Both squads have nearly identical top five lineups, meaning it's anyone's race in Leesburg, VA. No. 15 Villanova is a group to watch out for as well, especially after Sadie Sigstead's superb season. 

Connecticut's Chloe Thomas, who finished third at Pre-Nationals, is also a contender with a lot of momentum.

Led by frontrunner Liam Murphy, the Villanova Wildcats are the team to beat in the conference, but Georgetown would love to try and make it a Hoya sweep. Roughly two weeks ago, Murphy and the 'Cats made a huge statement after winning the Princeton Fall Classic, putting three runners in the top 10 to take down North Carolina, Princeton and Georgetown, who were ranked ninth, 21st and 27th at the time.

Additionally, Butler's William Zegarski and Villanova's Marco Langon are most likely each going to be helping Murphy dictate the flow of the race up front.

FloTrack Is Streaming Cross Country High School State Meets All November

November is also the month of high school cross country championship meets. Check the FloTrack schedule for a list of all the state championships streaming on FloTrack

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