Story by UNK Athletic Communications
Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney tallied a school-record 533.75 points to finish 18th in the race for the 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup.
The Cup is the Division II "All-Sports" Trophy, given annually to the school that scores the most points at NCAA Championships over the fall, winter and spring seasons. The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. For the 2025-26 academic year, there were 301 Division II schools spread across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico with 251 scoring at least a half point at an NCAA Championship event.
Ranking fourth among MIAA schools, this year's point total bests the 494.50 tallied during the 2007-08 year (16th place). This is the seventh time since 1996 the Lopers have cracked the Top 20; the best finish came during the 2005-06 season (13th).
The Lopers scored 146.0 points in the fall, 173.50 in the winter and added 214.25 in the spring. Overall, UNK tallied points in men's and women's cross country, volleyball, wrestling, men's and women's indoor track & field, women's golf, men's tennis, and men's and women's outdoor track & field.
Not surprisingly, the MIAA had a strong showing as five members ranked in the Top 25. They were Pittsburg State (8th/673.0), Washburn (9th/671.0), Central Missouri (14th/577.0) and Northwest Missouri State (23rd/519.0).
As usual, Grand Valley (Mich.) State took home the Cup, tallying 1,089.75 points. The Lakers have won this award 18 times with Wingate (N.C.) a distant runner up (892.50) for a second consecutive year.