MONTGOMERY, Ala. – League coaches selected Mobile as the top team in the 2026 Southern States Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll. 
 
Mobile, UT Southern and Loyola all grabbed multiple first-place votes and over 100 points. The Rams narrowly won last year’s championship with 51 points, followed closely by Loyola (52) and UT Southern (62). 

Leith Rawson, Mobile Head Coach: “It has been a blessing to have won two years in a row and for the first time for the University of Mobile. I am thankful for the continued support for the team. We have a great group of returning athletes along with multiple incoming freshmen. As a team we will continue to glorify Him in all that we do.”
 
2026 SSAC Men’s Cross Country Championship
The 2026 SSAC Men’s Cross Country Championship will take place Friday, Nov. 6 at Choctaw Trails in Jackson, Miss. The course has hosted six previous SSAC championships, with the last coming in 2017. 
 
2026 SSAC Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll
1. Mobile - 116 (7)
2. UT Southern - 104 (2)
3. Loyola - 101 (2)
4. Blue Mountain - 88
5. William Carey - 76
6. Faulkner - 74
7. Brewton-Parker - 52
8. Xavier - 36
9. Thomas - 32
10. Abraham Baldwin - 25
11. Andrew - 22