Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Finish 11th In Final Learfield Directors' Cup Fall Standings
January 22, 2026 | General
BOULDER — After a fantastic fall season, the University of Colorado athletic department is off to one of its strongest starts in recent years, checking in at No. 11 overall and second in the Big 12 in the final fall standings of the Learfield Directors' Cup, the National Association of Collegiate Director's of Athletics (NACDA) announced Thursday.
CU has totaled 244.5 points across four fall sports to trail only BYU among Big 12 programs. It marks the Buffs' highest fall placement since the 2018-19 season. BYU sits at fourth place, 65 points ahead of CU at 244.50 points. Colorado is behind six ACC, one big ten, and one Ivy League school. The next Big 12 school is Iowa State in 25th place with 189 points.Â
Colorado's point total was highlighted by strong postseason performances across multiple sports, beginning with the men's and women's cross country teams. The Buffs earned 67.5 points from a 10th-place finish in men's cross country and 63 points from a 13th-place showing in women's cross country.
In November, women's soccer added 64 points with a Sweet 16 appearance, while women's volleyball contributed 50 points in December after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The fall Directors' Cup standings also account for results in women's field hockey, men's soccer, men's water polo, and FCS football.
About the Learfield Directors' Cup
The Learfield Directors' Cup is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and recognizes the most successful overall collegiate athletics programs in the country based on performances across NCAA (and NAIA) championships. Points are awarded according to order of finish in national championship competition, with higher placements earning more points toward a school's overall total. The program originated in 1993-94 and has expanded to include institutions across NCAA Divisions I, II, III and the NAIA. The Directors' Cup honors broad-based excellence in college athletics and is a benchmark of sustained success across multiple sports.
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