ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State head cross country coach Donald Cooper has announced the Bulldogs' and Lady Bulldogs' 2026 cross country schedule, featuring seven regular-season meets highlighted by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships and the NCAA Southeast Regional.

The 2026 campaign opens on Friday, Sept.4, at the CSU Buccaneer Invitational in Charleston, South Carolina, before the Bulldogs return to action on Friday, Sept. 11, at the Queen City Invite  in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"We're excited about the opportunities our student-athletes will have this season against quality competition throughout the Southeast," Cooper said. "This schedule provides a great balance of challenging meets that will prepare us for the MEAC Championships and ultimately position us to compete at our highest level during the postseason."

Following a brief break, South Carolina State heads to Cary, North Carolina, for the HBCU Challenge on Friday, Oct. 2, before competing in back-to-back meets in the Palmetto State.

The Bulldogs will race in the USCB Sand Shark Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Beaufort, South Carolina, before returning to Spartanburg for the USC Upstate Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The championship portion of the season begins on Saturday, Oct. 31, when South Carolina State returns to Cary, North Carolina, for the 2026 MEAC Cross Country Championships.

The season concludes on Friday, Nov. 13, at the NCAA Southeast Regional in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where qualifying teams and individuals will compete for a berth in the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

2026 South Carolina State Men's & Women's Cross Country Schedule

Date	Event	Location
Sept. 4 (Friday)	CSU Buccaneer Invitational	Charleston, S.C.
Sept. 11 (Friday)	Queen City Invite	Charlotte, NC
Oct. 2 (Friday)	HBCU Challenge	Cary, N.C.
Oct. 10 (Saturday)	USCB Sand Shark Invitational	Beaufort, S.C.
Oct. 17 (Saturday)	USC Upstate Invitational	Spartanburg, S.C.
Oct. 31 (Saturday)	MEAC Championships	Cary, N.C.
Nov. 13 (Friday)	NCAA Southeast Regional	Spartanburg, S.C.

Schedule is subject to change.