Check out the Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 31 cross country teams in the NCAA this season. The No. 9 spot goes to Michigan State this year, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Rachele Schulist (4:16 1500; 15:36 5K; 33:24 10K; 4th at '14 NCAA XC)
SR Alexis Wiersma (15:53 5K; 33:49 10K; 21st at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Shelby Jackson (16:16 5K; 34:27 10K; 79th at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Kelsie Schwartz (16:26 5K; 185th at '15 NCAA XC)
SO Lynsie Gram (126th at '15 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Sarah Kettel via Brighton, MI (10:27 2 Mile; 16:41 5K; 39th at '14 FL XC)
Holly Bullough via Traverse City, MI (2:10 800; 4:47 1600)

Analysis:

The Michigan State Spartans captured the NCAA Championship in 2014 with a senior-heavy team. Top finisher (fourth) Rachele Schulist continued to have a standout redshirt sophomore season by running and 9:01/15:36 on the track. But after Schulist placed fifth at last year's Roy Griak Invitational, she did not race again in the fall. Their solid low-stick was injured, and the Spartans couldn't win their fifth Big Ten Championship in six seasons.

With Schulist out, Alexis Wiersma stepped up to the plate. She finished runner-up in the Big Ten and 21st in the NCAA. And with Schulist back this fall after a successful return from injury this spring, they could be one of the most feared duos in the NCAA.

Their projected supporting cast saw many improvements during the track season. Shelby Jackson ran big personal bests in the 5K (16:16) and 10K (34:27), and scored at both the indoor and outdoor conference meets. Wiersma was only 69th in the country when the Spartans took home the team title. I wouldn't be surprised if Coach Walt Drenth makes sure Jackson has that same big improvement on the grass and ends up with an All-American finish this fall.

Kelsie Schwartz found her stride and ran 16:26 this spring. The transfer from Louisville was only 185th last fall, but should be a solid No. 4 behind Jackson this season.

Previously:
#10 Boise State
#11 Notre Dame
#12 Arkansas
#13 Harvard
#14 Georgetown
#15 Washington
#16 Princeton
#17 Penn State
#18 Iowa State
#19 Syracuse
#20 San Francisco
#21 Kansas
#22 Weber State
#23 Cal
#24 North Carolina
#25 BYU
#26 Virginia
#27 Villanova
#28 Vanderbilt
#29 Texas
#30 Florida
#31 Minnesota