The East Coast Conference announced the results of the Men's and Women's Cross Country Preseason Polls ahead of the upcoming 2026 seasons. Both of Molloy's programs finished in the top-three of their respective polls with the men's team totaling 33 points for third-place and the women's team earning 54 points for second-place.
 
Roberts Wesleyan topped the polls on both sides with 48 points (six first-place votes) for the men and 64 points (eight first-place votes) for the women. The men's poll saw Daemen ahead of Molloy with 40 points and one first place vote. Following the Lions were St. Thomas Aquinas (30 points), D'Youville (18 points), Queens (13 points), and Staten Island (12 points). For the women, the poll was rounded out by D'Youville (47 points), Daemen (42 points), St. Thomas Aquinas (26 points), Queens (25 points), Staten Island (21 points), and District of Columbia (nine points).
 
CJ Johnson (Daemen) and Paige Moore (Roberts Wesleyan) earned the Men's and Women's Preseason Runner of the Year, respectively.

The predictions for Molloy mirror the Lions' finishes at the 2025 ECC Championship, where the men finished in third-place with 88 points led by an All-Conference performance from Anthony Baldasano (27:54.60) and the women placed second with three All-Conference times including returner Carli Sheiffele (19:29.10).
 
Molloy will begin the 2026 season at the Panthers Invitational on September 4 from Bethpage. The ECC Championship is scheduled for November 7 from Matt St. James Cross Country Trail in Rochester before the NCAA Regional race on November 21 from Bethpage.