Check out the Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 31 cross country teams in the NCAA this season. The No. 13 men's spot goes to Ole Miss this year, and here's why:

Probable Top Seven:

SR MJ Erb (8:01 3K; 14:05 5K; 8:34 3K SC; 37th at '14 NCAA XC)
JR Sean Tobin (3:59 Mile; 7:58 3K; 14:13 5K; 68th at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Wes Gallagher (4:02 Mile; 13:51 5K; 29:13 10K; 80th at '14 NCAA XC)
SR Robert Domanic (4:00 Mile; 7:54 3K; 13:54 5K; 112th at '14 NCAA XC)
SR Craig Engels (1:46 800; 3:37 1500; 14:20 5K; 160th at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Mark Robertson (29:49 10K; 210th at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Trevor Gilley (14:03 5K; 211th at '14 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

Last year, we ranked the Ole Miss men No. 5 in the pre-season based on the potential of head coach Ryan Vanhoy's squad. That fifth-place ranking did not pan out, as they struggled throughout the XC season and ultimately finished 30th at NCAAs. However, the Rebels' 2016 track season was very impressive with as they produced five SEC titles, six NCAA All-Americans and three U.S. Olympic Trials finalists.

2016 INDOOR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 8 FINISHES:
SEC 800 (7th)
SEC Mile (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th)
SEC 3K (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
SEC 5K (1st, 8th)
SEC DMR (1st)
NCAA DMR (3rd)
NCAA 5K (7th)

2016 OUTDOOR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 8 FINISHES:
SEC 1500 (1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th)
SEC 3K Steeplechase (3rd)
SEC 5K (2nd, 3rd)
SEC 10K (4th, 7th)
NCAA 1500 (6th, 7th)
NCAA 3K Steeplechase (8th)
NCAA 5K (7th)
U.S. Trials 800 (4th)
U.S. Trials 1500 (5th)

So while the No. 5 pre-season ranking was far from accurate, the Rebels did live up to their talent on the track in 2016. The question now is, will the Rebels ride their track success into cross country this year?

Projected Top Five's Most Impressive XC Performances:
MJ Erb - 39th, 2014 NCAA XC Championships
Sean Tobin - 68th, 2015 NCAA XC Championships
Wes Gallagher - 3rd, 2014 SEC XC Championships
Robert Domanic - 5th, 2014 NCAA South XC Regional
Craig Engels - 15th, 2015 NCAA South XC Regional

The talent is there: senior MJ Erb is an All-American steeplechaser, junior Sean Tobin has run 3:59 and 7:58, senior Wes Gallagher was sick during cross country but has run track PBs of 13:51 and 29:13, senior Robert Domanic was sixth in the 1500 at NCAAs, and senior Craig Engels was a finalist in both the 800m and 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

It's just a matter of all five scorers consistently posting a solid race on the same day. On a bad day, this team will repeat their performance from 2015; on a good day, the Rebels are a solid top-15 team.

Previously:
#14 BYU
#15 Washington
#16 Furman
#17 Indiana
#18 Oklahoma
#19 Boise State
#20 Portland
#21 UTEP
#22 Oklahoma State
#23 Michigan
#24 Washington State
#25 Michigan State
#26 Villanova
#27 Louisville
#28 Tulsa
#29 Iowa State
#30 Illinois
#31 North Carolina State