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. 12 men’s spot goes to Syracuse, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

JR Aidan Tooker (8:30 3K SC; 13:52 5K; 109th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SO Noah Affolder (8:40 3K SC; 14:07 5K; 9th at ’18 NCAA 3K SC)

SR Iliass Aouani (13:55 5K; 29:19 10K; 234th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Kevin James (14:09 5K; 29:48 10K; 116th at ’16 NCAA XC)

SO Joe Dragon (14:24 5K; 29:55 10K; 174th at ’17 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Michael Phillips via Tallahassee, FL (4:06 Mile; 8:54 3200; 16th at ’17 FL XC)

Matt Scrape via Pickerington, OH (8:59 3200; 19th at ’17 FL XC)

Silas Derfel via Ithaca, NY (4th at ’17 NXR New York)

Thomas Witkowicz via Canada (8:30 3K; 6th at ’17 Canada U20 XC)

Analysis:

This year’s Syracuse team will be very different from year’s past. The Orangemen graduated their Big-3 in Justyn Knight, Philo Germano, and Colin Bennie. Also, long-time head coach Chris Fox left the program to start a pro-training group with Reebok. With all of these changes not all is lost for Syracuse as their crop of young stars are poised to have breakout seasons this fall.

This year’s squad will be led by steeplechasers Aidan Tooker and Noah Affolder. Tooker and Affolder are coming off excellent track seasons and should be All-Americans on the grass in 2018. Behind them will be senior Iliass Aouani who has run strong track times during his collegiate career as well as junior Kevin James and sophomore Joe Dragon.

The wildcard for the Orangemen this year will be their incoming freshman class. Michael Phillips and Matt Scrape were top-20 at Foot Locker Nationals last fall. Silas Derfel was 4th at the NXR New York regional and Canadian Thomas Witkowicz had a strong 6th place finish at the U20 Canadian XC Championships. If one or two of these true freshmen run well Syracuse should be in good position for another top ten finish.

FULL RANKINGS HERE