Learfield D2 Directors' Cup Standings

Cleveland, Ohio----For the second consecutive year, Wingate University has finished second in the NCAA Division II Learfield Directors' Cup standings. The final results were released Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs piled up a new program-record 892.50 points to finish second for the second straight year, trailing only Grand Valley State, who captures its 18th Directors' Cup victory with 1,089.75 points.

"We are very proud of the relentless effort that our Student-Athletes, coaches and administrators continue to put forth in the quest for excellence," Wingate University Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Reich says.

Wingate finished 60.5 points ahead of third-place UIndy, with West Texas A&M and Minnesota State rounding out the top five. The Bulldogs have now finished in the top five in each of the last four years. Prior to last year's runner-up finish, Wingate was fourth in 2024 and fifth in 2023. The 'Dogs also finished sixth in 2015 and eighth in 2018, giving the Bulldogs six top-10 finishes all-time. WU has finished in the top 30 nationally in each of the last 11 years of the award. Wingate was once again the top SAC school in the standings, followed by Catawba (10th), Lenoir-Rhyne (22nd) and Anderson (36th).

Wingate put up one of the most balanced finishes in the Learfield standings, culminating with 414.50 points in the spring, which led all of Division II. Wingate had 258 points in the fall and 220 points in the winter. The Bulldogs are the only school in the country to score at least 220 points in all three seasons. Wingate and Grand Valley State are the only two schools to have five top-three national finishes throughout the 2025-26 season.

Overall, 15 sports are counted in the final Division II Learfield Cup standings, four of which must be women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings. The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships.

As has been the case every year, the Bulldogs got off to an incredible start in the fall, highlighted by the men's cross country team capturing the national title for the second time in the last three years, adding the SAC and region championship while piling up 100 Learfield Cup points. The women's cross country team added a third-place showing at nationals to collect 85 points while adding a SAC and region title. The Bulldog volleyball team captured the SAC regular season and tourney titles, adding another region championship to finish fifth and collect 73 points. The Bulldog football team also earned a spot in the NCAA D2 play-offs, finishing 17th nationally.

The Bulldogs were second through the fall, then were slotted third after the winter, which saw four more WU teams earn points. The men's track and field team led the way, compiling 85 points with a program-record third-place finish at Indoor nationals. The men's swim team added 69 points with a seventh-place finish, while the women finished 11th to add 66 points. The women's track & field squad also registered 35.5 points with their performance at the Indoor national championships. Both swim and both track teams also won SAC titles in the winter.

The spring season catapulted the Bulldogs back to second in the final standings, with Wingate piling up 414.50 points, the only team with over 400 points in the spring. Men's golf led the way with a national runner-up finish, while the women's golf team advanced to the national semifinals to finish third. The two golf teams also won the SAC titles, while the women captured the region championship. The golf programs combined to collect 173 points. The men's lacrosse team earned an opening-round bye in the national tournament, finishing ninth to collect 45 Learfield points while also winning the regular season SAC title. The men's tennis team won its opening-round match, finishing 17th to contribute 50 points. The women's lacrosse team won the SAC regular season and tournament titles, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The women's tennis team also earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Both track & field teams rolled to both outdoor SAC titles, while the men's team finished 10th to add another 67.5 points. The women also contributed 42 points to the final standings.

2025-26 Wingate National Finishes (Learfield Points)
Men's Cross Country – 1st (100 points)
Men's Golf – 2nd (90 points)
Women's Cross Country – 3rd (85 points)
Men's Indoor Track & Field – 3rd (85 points)
Women's Golf – 3rd (83 points)
Volleyball – 5th (73 points)
Men's Swimming – 7th (69 points)
Men's Lacrosse - 9th (45 points) 
Men's Outdoor Track & Field – 10th (67.5 points)
Women's Swimming – 11th (66 points)
Men's Tennis – 17th (50 points)
Women's Outdoor Track & Field – 32nd (42 points)
Baseball – 33rd (38 points)
Women's Lacrosse – 17th
Women's Tennis – 33rd
Women's Indoor Track & Field – 38th

Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's website. In addition, you can follow on X at @ldirectorscup.

ABOUT LEARFIELD

Learfield is a media, data, and technology services leader in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services include licensing and collegiate sports properties' multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; and ticket sales, premium seating, and fundraising services; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for NACDA's acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, recognizing athletic departments across all divisions.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 9 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education, and the School of Sport Sciences. 

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.

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