CLEVELAND, Ohio – Led by Trinity University’s 22nd place finish, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) placed nine institutions, including four in the top 115, in the prestigious 2024-25 Division III LEARFIELD Directors' Cup final standings in an announcement made last week by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Complete Standings
The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships in up to 18 sports across the fall, winter and spring seasons.
It marks the first time since 2011–12 that nine SCAC institutions have been represented in the Division III LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup final standings. The league saw 10 institutions ranked in the final 2008-09 standings. This year marks the fourth consecutive year the SCAC has placed five or more schools in the final rankings, the longest such stretch since the conference posted a streak of six-straight years from 2007-12.
This year also marks the first time since 2010-11 the SCAC has placed four institutions in the top 115 as Trinity was joined by Colorado College, who finished 76th, McMurry University (86th) and Texas Lutheran University (112th). The SCAC is one of just 12 NCAA Division III conferences that has at least four institutions finish ranked in the top 115. Other conferences included: American Rivers, CCIW, Centennial, Landmark, Liberty League, MIAC, NESCAC, NEWMAC, OAC, UAA and WIAC. Of that group, just seven joined the SCAC in also having nine or more institutions ranked in the final standings.
Trinity finished the 2024-25 season with 636.00 points to pace the SCAC, earning 337.00 points this spring after amassing 299.00 combined points in the fall and winter. The Tigers’ spring season was highlighted by several deep NCAA playoff runs and standout performances. The baseball team advanced to the program’s fourth College World Series, earning 73.00 points. The men’s and women’s tennis programs combined for 128.00 points after both teams finished tied for ninth. Meanwhile, the men’s and women’s golf programs secured a total of 106.00 points, finishing tied for 22nd and 19th, respectively. Women’s outdoor track and field rounded out the scoring for the Tigers, collecting a 41st-place finish at the NCAA Championships to obtain 30.00 points.
Colorado College amassed 264.00 points and finished 76th, the best finish for the Tigers since joining the SCAC prior to the 2006-07 academic year. CC closed out the spring with an additional 83.50 points after securing a tie for 17th place in women’s lacrosse and the men’s and women’s track and field programs combining for 33.50 points behind a 73rd and 42nd place finish respectively at the NCAA Championships.
McMurry secured 86th overall, accumulating 226.25 points to rank as the SCAC’s third-highest scoring institution. The War Hawks picked up 92.50 points in the spring, highlighted by the baseball team collecting 64.00 points after their run to the Super Regionals and the men’s track and field program securing 28.50 points on the strength of a 28th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Texas Lutheran compiled 173.00 over all points to earn 112th place. The Bulldogs secured 73 points this spring, thanks to the softball program advancing to its fourth College World Series in the last six years.
University of St. Thomas rounded out the top five SCAC finishers, claiming 129th after accumulating 149.00 total points. The Celts added 99.00 points in the spring, led by the softball team’s 17th-place finish (50.00) the men’s golf program taking home 25th (49.00) at the NCAA Championships.
Concordia University (Texas) finished tied for 238th in the rankings, totaling 50.00 points behind the strength of the baseball program’s second-straight and eighth overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament this spring.
Schreiner University (T267th – 40.00 points) and University of the Ozarks (T287 – 26.00 points) both secured their spots on the final LEARFIELD standings after the Mountaineers and Eagles both secured points at the Men’s Wrestling Championships in the winter.
Southwestern University closed out the SCAC’s representation, finishing tied for 323rd overall with five points, coming on the heels of the women’s track and field program at the NCAA Championships this spring.
Emory University claimed the 2024-25 Division III Directors’ Cup, winning with 1,198.75 total points. Johns Hopkins, the reigning champion for the past two years, placed second with 1,147.00 points, while Tufts University earned 1,069.00 points to round out the top three.
After the completion of all 14 spring NCAA championships, the following institutions captured titles: baseball – Wisconsin–Whitewater; beach volleyball – Texas Christian University; women's golf – Emory; men's golf – Methodist; women's lacrosse - Middlebury; men's lacrosse – Tufts; women's rowing - Tufts; softball – Trine; women's tennis - WashU; men's tennis – Denison; women's track and field – MIT; men's track and field – Wisconsin La-Crosse; men's volleyball – Long Beach State; women's water polo - Stanford.
