CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ten MIAA member institutions rank in the latest standings update for the 2025-26 NCAA Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup, through the completion of the fall and winter sport seasons. The Gorillas of Pittsburg State University lead the MIAA with a ranking of eighth nationally.
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) released the 215 NCAA Division II institutions that appear on the most recent standings update for the Division’s 2025-26 Learfield Directors’ Cup. Grand Valley State University continues to lead the standings with 790.5 points accumulated from the fall and winter seasons.
Among the 23 total NCAA Division II conferences, the MIAA is one of 10 that have 10 or more member institutions ranking in the most recent standings. The MIAA is also one of just two conferences with five institutions ranking within the Division’s top 40.
Pittsburg State’s fall and winter teams compiled 388.0 points to date, thanks to the Gorillas’ men's and women's indoor track and field teams capturing the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships last month.
Washburn ranks 15th in the standings with 330.0 points. The Ichabods’ track and field programs also highlighted Washburn’s winter sport seasons with their top 30 finishes at the indoor national championships (men placed 21st, women placed 29th). Washburn’s basketball teams also contributed with appearances in the 2026 Division II postseason.
Nebraska Kearney ranks 19th in the Division with 319.5 points, thanks to the Lopers’ wrestling team being crowned champions of the 2026 NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championship. Kearney’s track and field programs also added to the Lopers’ point total with top 30 placings at the indoor national championships (women placed 25th, men placed 45th).
Central Missouri ranks just one place behind the Lopers in 20th with 311.5 points to date. All five of Central Missouri’s winter sport programs advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason. The Jennies’ track and field program led UCM’s winter with a 12th-place finish at the indoor national championships, followed by the Mules’ wrestling program that placed 17th at the wrestling national championship. Both basketball teams also advanced to the second round of the Division II postseason, and the Mules track and field program also scored points at the indoor national championships to add to UCM’s winter point total.
Northwest Missouri ranks 36th with 261.5 points, thanks to the Bearcats’ track and field programs with two top ten finishes at the Division II indoor national championships. The Northwest women placed seventh and the Northwest men placed eighth.
Fort Hays State is the final MIAA member to rank in the top 100 of the latest standings update with 215.0 points. The Tigers’ men’s and women’s wrestling programs earned points at the 2026 wrestling national championships, while the Tigers’ women’s basketball team advanced to the second round of the Division II postseason.
Missouri Southern ranks 111th with 112.25 points, followed by Central Oklahoma, ranked 115th with 105.0 points, Missouri Western, ranked 116th with 104.0 points, and Rogers State, ranked 129th with 98.0 points.
Pitt State led the MIAA and ranked No. 7 in the 2024-25 Learfield Directors' Cup Final Standings. The top seven national ranking stands as the Gorillas’ highest-ever placement in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings. The final 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup Standings will be released in June.
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