Follow our 2018 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. And, be sure to watch our LIVE FloXC Podium Reveal Show Tuesday, September 11th at 10 AM CT. The No. 23 men's spot goes to Colorado State, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Cole Rockhold (7:50 3K; 13:40 5K; 32nd at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Eric Hamer (14:00 5K; 29:38; 90th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Carson Hume (8:05 3K; 14:03 5K; 111th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Satchel Caldwell (14:29 5K; 30:14 10K; 35th at ’17 MWC XC)

SR Trent Powell (8:07 3K; 14:27 5K; 175th at ’17 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Michael Mooney via Broomfield, CO (4:11 1600; 8:50 3200; 7th at '17 CO State XC)

Tom Oates via Chelsea, MI (4:11 1600; 9:06 3200; 5th at '17 MI State XC) 

Analysis:

The Colorado State men return three of their top five from their 2017 NCAA team that took ninth in Louisville, the team’s best finish in nearly 40 years. No. 1 man and three-time NCAA All-American Cole Rockhold will lead the Rams once again in 2018, and the senior will do so after having by far the best track season of his career. Rockhold will likely be joined by three other seniors in the top five, giving the Rams an upperclassmen core that will try to climb back up the national ranks.

Losing former All-American Jerrell Mock and 28:45 10k guy Grant Fischer to graduation will be difficult to replace, but seniors Eric Hamer and Carson Hume will do their best to fill those big shoes. Hamer improved from 185th at nationals as a sophomore to 90th as a junior, and then had his best track season yet in the spring. Hamer had never broken 15 minutes in the 5k before 2018; now he owns a 14:00 personal best.

The Rams don’t have any other top 100 NCAA athletes coming back, so they’ll rely on the rest of their scorers stepping up to remain at the top of the national scene. Hume smashed his track PRs in 2018, and as such, will be expected to finish much higher at NCAAs this year. Satchell Caldwell and Trent Powell also bring excellent long distance pedigree from the track to Colorado State’s top five this year, and the Rams will hope their solid marks translate to success on the cross country course.

FULL RANKINGS HERE