Loyola University New Orleans has been ranked third for men and sixth for women in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) 2026 preseason cross country polls. The rankings, announced by the SSAC, show the men's team securing 101 points with two first-place votes, while the women's team earned 88 points. Mobile leads the men's poll with 116 points, and William Carey tops the women's with 144 points. Key returning athletes include Jace Luckoski and Meera Hijazi, who both finished in the top 30 at last year's SSAC championships.

By the Numbers
  • Loyola men's team: 101 points, 2 first-place votes
  • Loyola women's team: 88 points
  • Men's season opener on Sept. 4, featuring five meets before the SSAC Championship on Nov. 6
State of Play
  • Loyola finished second for men and sixth for women in the 2025 SSAC championships.
  • This will be the final season in SSAC and NAIA, transitioning to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference in 2027-28.
What's Next

Loyola's cross country teams will compete in the Battle for New Orleans on September 4, setting the stage for the SSAC Championship in November.

Bottom Line

Loyola's solid preseason rankings reflect both past performance and the promise of returning talent as the teams prepare for a critical year before transitioning to a new athletic conference.