Texas A&M and Illinois are the top two teams in the first DI Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Rating Indexes from USTFCCCA.
The ratings index serves as rankings for the indoor track and field season, differing from the coaches' poll in cross country. The ratings index is objectively built using qualifying marks from the current season. With the indoor season still in its genesis, these rankings could quickly change as more athletes begin to take the track as we near championship season.
Nonetheless, let's look at the top teams as of Jan. 28, 2025.
Texas A&M and Illinois lead the way
Texas A&M is the top men's team in the country. The Aggies have nine top-10 marks and 12 top-20 marks. Three sprinters are in the top five of the 400 meters — without Auhmad Robinson yet.
Illinois is the top women's team in the country to open for the second straight season, paced by an impressive group of field event athletes. Rose Yeboah's No. 3 mark of 1.91 meters in the high jump leads two top-10 jumpers. Tori Thomas has the No. 2 pole vault at 4.57 meters, Phethisang Makhethe has the No. 7 weight throw — and then there's the long jump.
The Fighting Illini have four top-10 long jumpers and six within the top 17. Tacoria Humphrey and Sophia Beckmon lead at 6.78 meters and 6.71 meters, respectively.
If that wasn't enough, Illinois has the nation's leader in the Pentathlon, Luci Kienast, and Melissa Wullschleger sits ninth with her point total across the five events.
Defending champs land in the top five
Men's defending indoor champion Texas Tech opens the season ranked No. 3. Like last year, the Red Raiders have great depth in the sprints and production in the field events. Transfer Malachi Snow has combined with Antoine Andrews to create another great tandem in the 60 meters and 60 meter hurdles.
Women's defending indoor champion Arkansas opens the season ranked No. 4. As expected with the Razorbacks, the 400 meters leads the way. Joanne Reid and Sanaria Butler have top-eight marks nationally, with three more runners in the top 26. Yet, there's plenty of potential in other events in Fayetteville, with top-15 marks in the 200 meters, 800 meters, 5000 meters, 4x400 relay and long jump.
Full rankings:
Schools with two top-10 teams
Four schools have top 10 men's and women's programs. See the teams in the table below.
| School | Men's Ranking | Women's ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | No. 1 | No. 7 |
| Texas Tech | No. 3 | No. 2 |
| Oklahoma | No. 4 | No. 9 |
| Illinois | No. 8 | No. 1 |
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Top men's teams find success in different ways
In the rest of the men's top five, the teams have been excellent in separate event categories.
Top sprinters bolster Southern California to No. 2. The Trojans have four in the top 20 of the 60 meters, two top six in the 200 meters and the No. 5 4x400 relay. USC also has Johnny Brckins, the nation's leader in the 60 meter hurdles, and JC Stevenson, who ranks third in the long jump in addition to his nation-leading 6.52-second 60 meters.
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No. 4 Oklahoma has had early success in the field events, most notably the jumps. Brandon Green leads the nation with his 16.75-meter triple jump, while Kyren Washington's 2.22-meter high jump and Nikaoli WIlliams' 7.93-meter long jump each rank second nationally. Throw in a pair of top-10 shot put throws from Ralford Mullings (3rd) and Tucker Smith (10th) and you have the makings of a top-five program.
No. 5 Washington finds its top marks mostly in the mid-distance/distance events. The Huskies have five top-five times between the 800 meters, mile and 3000 meters, with an additional two marks within the top 15. Nathan Green is leading the way with the No. 1 mile at 3:50.74 and No. 5 3000 meters at 7:40.09.
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Non top-10 teams to watch
There are teams outside of the top 10 that could make a rise up the charts as the season progresses. On the men's side No. 12 Nebraska and No. 19 California stand out.
Nebraska's strength lies in the field events. In the high jump, Tyus Wilson leads the nation, and Reid Nelson and Mason Kooi rank ninth and 12th, respectively. Maxwell Otterdahl is third in the shot put, and Dyson Wicker is seventh in the pole vault, giving the Cornhuskers five athletes across three different events ranking near the top in the country. If Nebraska can get more top performers in some events on the track, the Cornhuskers could be a top-10 team sooner rather than later.
California ranks No. 19, with only five athletes scoring marks for the TFRI. David Foster and Tyler Burns rank third in the 60 meters and pole vault, respectively. Meanwhile, Johnny Goode (9th) and Jason Plumb (13th) are just outside the top 10 in the 400 meters and Long jump. At 22nd in the 60 meters, Gavin Schurr is the final qualifier for the Golden Bears. Cal hasn't shown the depth of the other teams at the top of the rankings, but more wins from these five athletes could make the Golden Bears a sleeper team.
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Keep an eye out for Baylor outside of the women's top 10. The Bears have the nation's fastest 200-meter runner in Tiriah Kelley, while long jumper Alexis Brown and pole vaulter Molly Haywood have also turned out top-10 performances. Freshman Janae De Gannes also has the 12th-best long jump in the NCAA this year. With a few more contributors as the season progresses, Baylor could quickly join the top 10.
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