Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 1 men's spot goes to Northern Arizona, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Matthew Baxter (13:44 5K; 28:48 10K; 7th at '17 NCAA 10K; 11th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Tyler Day (13:49 5K; 28:46 10K; 9th at '17 USATF 10K; 23rd at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Andy Trouard (3:38 1500; 13:36 5K; 11th at '17 USATF 5K; 37th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Cory Glines (13:58 5K; 29:11 10K; 84th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Geordie Beamish (3:41 1500; 13:53 5K; 97th at '16 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Luis Grijalva via Fairfield, CA (4:02 Mile; 8:45 3200; 1st at '16 CA State XC; 13th at '16 FL XC)
Elliot Gindi via Ocean Township, NJ (4:09 1600; 9:11 3200; 31st at '16 FL XC)

Analysis:

Last year, Northern Arizona executed the ultimate victory for their then-head coach Eric Heinz. At the end of the year, coach Heinz was leaving his coaching position with the Lumberjacks so he could move to Houston, Texas, for his wife and her new job. As a heartfelt thank you to their beloved coach, the Lumberjacks defended the No. 1 season ranking by winning the program's first-ever NCAA cross country title. Led by stellar performances from Futsum Zienasellassie (4th), Matt Baxter (11th), Tyler Day (23rd), Andy Trouard (37th), and Cory Glines (84th), the team racked up a total of 125 points to win the championship over Stanford. The performance was an emotional send-off for coach Heinz and marked the beginning of a new era for Northern Arizona cross country.

This year, coach Mike Smith gets to lead the squad in the defense of their NCAA title. The Lumberjacks only lose two of the top seven athletes to graduation, but return as a stronger and more experienced group. The top returner is Matt Baxter who finished 11th at last year's championship and has since set personal bests and a national record for his home country of New Zealand. During the 2017 indoor season, Baxter ran 13:44 to break the 5K national record and earn a spot to compete at the NCAA indoor championships where he finished 14th overall. During the outdoor season, Baxter ran an outdoor 5K personal best of 13:46 and a 10K personal best of 28:48. He competed at the NCAA outdoor championships where he finished seventh in the 10K.

Tyler Day is ready to improve in cross country after a breakthrough track season. After running an indoor 5K PB of 13:49, Day went on to compete at NCAA indoor championships where he finished eighth overall. He redshirted during the outdoor season, but in that time, posted a 10K personal best of 28:46. He went on to compete at the USATF Outdoor Championships where he placed ninth in the field.

While redshirting the 2017 outdoor season, Andy Trouard competed in both the 1500m and 5K at the USATF Outdoor Championships. He didn't make it out of the first round of the 1500m, but placed 11th in the 5K final. Prior to USAs, Trouard ran a 1500m PB of 3:38 and a huge 5K PB of 13:36.

Cory Glines returns after running solid season bests of 14:19 in the 5K and 29:13 in the 10K during the track season, and Geordie Beamish is new and improved with a 3:41 1500m, and a 13:53 5K PB under his belt.

A recent addition that could prove to be incredibly useful is Luis Grijalva. The freshman comes to NAU with 4:02 mile speed and a 13th-place finish at the ultra-competitive Foot Locker Championships.

With the fire from winning last year's title and a much-improved returning class, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks are projected to defend their NCAA cross country crown.

FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE