The Rocky Mountain (Mont.) Battlin' Bears are favored to win the 2026 Frontier Conference Men's Cross Country title, as determined by the preseason coaches' poll. They secured six first-place votes and a total of 92 points, narrowly ahead of Carroll (Mont.) with 91 points. Rocky Mountain ended Carroll's four-year championship streak last season. Dakota State (S.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) followed in the rankings, with Valley City State (N.D.) placed eighth. The championship race is set for November 6 at Amend Park in Billings, Montana.

By the Numbers
  • Rocky Mountain (Mont.) received 92 points, leading the poll.
  • Carroll (Mont.) followed closely with 91 points.
  • Valley City State (N.D.) was rated eighth with 32 points.
Yes, But

Although Rocky Mountain is favored, Carroll remains a strong contender after finishing as runner-up in the previous season and holding three first-place votes.

State of Play
  • The upcoming Frontier Conference Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Rocky Mountain at Amend Park.
  • The meet is scheduled for November 6, with the winning team earning a spot in the NAIA National Championships.
What's Next

As the season progresses, teams will strive to capitalize on their preseason rankings leading into the championship, which will determine the automatic bid for the national meet on November 20.

Bottom Line

With Rocky Mountain's strong preseason standing, anticipation builds around their ability to defend their title, but Carroll's close ranking ensures a competitive race ahead.