The Lone Star Conference has released the Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll, ranking DBU as the second-best team in the conference with 357 points. The poll, voted on by the conference's head coaches, sports information directors, and media representatives, ranked all 14 LSC members.
 

West Texas A&M, the reigning LSC champion for 12 consecutive years, claimed the top spot with 389 points and 25 of the 28 available first-place votes. DBU received two first-place votes, while UT Tyler earned the remaining first-place nod. 

While the Buffs are widely regarded as the conference's premier program, DBU projects to field a formidable squad of its own. The Patriots return sophomores Hudson Joseph and David Salas, both of whom were tabbed as "Runners to Watch" by the conference office. Joseph and Salas finished 13th and 16th, respectively, at last year's LSC Championships. 
 

CJ Hobbs also returns for his final season after placing 14th at the 2025 LSC Championships, alongside fellow veteran Zach Martin. Sophomore Chase Hope is also back after serving as DBU's sixth runner at last year's conference championship. In all, DBU returns five of the top seven runners from its 2025 LSC runner-up squad.  
 

On top of that, the Patriots will have Aidan Killian for his final cross country season, as well as talented sophomores Graham Scott, Hunter Lemma, and Hunter Horton. Additionally, DBU signed one of the largest recruiting classes in program history, welcoming 20 freshmen to the roster. 
 

DBU has yet to win an LSC Championship since joining the conference in 2019 and has not qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships since 2017. The Patriots will look to end both droughts in 2026. 
 

The 2026 DBU debut will be on Friday, September 11, at the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational in Arlington. 

Preseason Poll

Rank    Team                                  1st            Pts.

1          West Texas A&M                 25             389

2          DBU                                   2               357

3          UT Tyler                              1               322

4          Oklahoma Christian                             295

5          Cameron                                             249

6          Lubbock Christian                                233

7          UT Dallas                                            209

8          St. Edward's                                        198

9          Texas A&M International                      166

10        Western New Mexico                           162

11        Texas A&M-Kingsville                           146

12        Angelo State                                       106

13        Eastern New Mexico                            73

14        Sul Ross State                                    35