The 2016 cross country season may be done, but is it ever TOO early to talk about next season? Check out our 2017 NCAA cross country podium team predictions:

Men

1. ARKANSAS

Projected Top Five:
SR Alex George
SR Jack Bruce
JR Cameron Griffith
JR Andrew Ronoh
SR Austen Dalquist

The 2017 Razorbacks will look a whole lot like the 2016 Razorbacks. They return Alex George (15th in 2016), Jack Bruce (19th), Cameron Griffith (48th), Andrew Ronoh (67th), and Austin Dalquist (196th). We billed Arkansas as a potential threat to win the whole thing this year, but the Razorbacks fell short and finished fifth--just 10 points behind Mississippi. George, Bruce, and Griffith (only 78th at Pre-Nats) had monster races in Terre Haute, so if Ronoh runs to his potential (28:36 10K on the track), this could be a dangerous squad from Fayetteville.

2. NORTHERN ARIZONA

Projected Top Five:
SR Matthew Baxter
JR Tyler Day
SR Andy Trouard
SR Cory Glines
SO Geordie Beamish

The 2016 NCAA champions were the only team to place all seven of its athletes in the top 100 at NCAAs, and the Lumberjacks ​return five of their top seven in 2017. (Stanford place six in the top 100, but Thomas Ratcliffe did not finish.) Considering this championship was a first-time NCAA appearance for Matt Baxter (11th in 2016), Tyler Day (23rd), and Geordie Beamish (97th), plus adding in Andy Trouard (37th) and Cory Glines (84th)--who fell down at 3K and finished in last place--this team could very well give coach Mike Smith an NCAA championship in his first season leading Northern Arizona.

3. STANFORD

Projected Top Five:
JR Grant Fisher
SO Thomas Ratcliffe
SR Sam Wharton
JR Steven Fahy
SR Jack Keelan

Grant Fisher (fifth in 2016) will contend for an NCAA individual title next fall, hoping to lead the Cardinal to an elusive team victory that they just fell short of the past three seasons (second in '16, third in '15, second in '14). Sam Wharton (41st), Steven Fahy (59th), Jack Keelan (86th), and sophomore Thomas Ratcliffe (was pulled from the course near 8K) all return. If the four other scorers can key off Fisher's consistency, this may be Stanford's year.

4. SYRACUSE

Projected Top Five:
SR Justyn Knight
SR Colin Bennie
SR Philo Germano
JR Iliass Aouani
FR Noah Affolder

The senior class of Justyn Knight (second in 2016), Colin Bennie (17th), and Philo Germano (49th) will be wanting to go out with a bang, and lucky for them, Bennie (eighth in '15) and Germano (39th in '15) are better than their 2016 performances. With more experience, Kevin James (116th) and Iliass Aouani (128th) should be better, and incoming freshman Noah Affolder (8:47 3,200; 14:47 5K XC) is one of the best recruits for 2017.

Women

1. COLORADO

Projected Top Five:
SR Kaitlyn Benner
JR Dani Jones
JR Mackenzie Caldwell
SO Sage Hurta
SO Tabor Scholl

Chalk it up to an off performance by the Colorado Buffaloes, who finished third after dominating the NCAA all season long. The good news? They return six of their seven runners from the 2016 championships. Dani Jones (22nd in 2016), Kaitlyn Benner (26th), Mackenzie Caldwell (39th), Sage Hurta (40th), Tabor Scholl (42nd), and Makena Morley (43rd) are all back--and if their 13-second spread starts a little lower, this could still be Colorado's best women's team ever.

2. NEW MEXICO

Projected Top Five:
SR Alice Wright
SO Ednah Kurgat
FR Weini Kelati
SR Rhona Auckland
SO Alex Buck

Two newcomers will be key if the New Mexico Lobos want to reach the podium again. They bring back Alice Wright (19th in 2016, fifth in 2015), Rhona Auckland (13th in 2015), and Alex Buck (105th in 2016) and bring in Foot Locker champion Weini Kelati and Liberty transfer Ednah Kurgat (12th in 2015). It's beginning to have all the makings of a super team again, and they may pick up more transfers before next fall.

3. STANFORD

Projected Top Five:
SR Vanessa Fraser
JR Elise Cranny
SO Fiona O'Keeffe
SO Christina Aragon
FR Nevada Mareno

The Stanford Cardinal finished fifth in 2016 with three true freshmen in their top five, including All-Americans Fiona O'Keeffe (37th) and Christian Aragon (38th). They'll bring back Vanessa Fraser (67th), Danielle Katz (83rd), Ella Donaghu (100th), and multiple-time All-American Elise Cranny, who finished 158th after suffering an injury during the season. They're also bringing in top recruit Nevada Mareno (10:00 2 Mile, 16:36 5K XC), who should fit right into the Stanford top seven.

4. MICHIGAN

Projected Top Five:
SR Avery Evenson
SR Gina Sereno
SO Madeline Trevisan
SR Jaimie Phelan
SR Jamie Morrissey

The Wolverines outperformed their ranking in 2016 by finishing runner-up to Oregon by just one point. Michigan returns six of its top seven, and if triathlete Avery Evenson's progression in one year (18th in 2016, her first XC season in three years) continues, the Wolverines could be just as good as this season. Gina Sereno (30th), Madeline Trevisan (46th), Jaimie Phelan (65th), and Jamie Morrissey (90th) will all be back for Michigan.