MIAA Leads Final 2025-26 NCAA Division II Learfield Directors' Cup Standings

6/12/2026 11:00:00 AM


CLEVELAND, Ohio – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced its final standings for the 2025-26 NCAA Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup earlier this week. The MIAA had 13 of its 14 member institutions listed in the standings and was the only NCAA Division II conference to have five institutions listed in the standings’ top 25.
 
While many of the 23 total NCAA Division II conferences were carried by one or two national powerhouses, the MIAA produced an army. Five institutions finished in the national top 25 and six landed in the top 40 of the final 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup standings. All 14 MIAA member institutions advanced to the NCAA postseason in at least one sport. In total, the Association combined for 16 individual national champions, 11 Division II Regional Champions, had two Division II National Runners-Up and collected three Division II National Champions in the 2025-26 academic year. 
 
“It was another great year for the MIAA,” stated MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy. “Five of our member schools finishing in the top 25, and six in the top 40, speaks to the depth and strength of the programs in our Association. I am very proud of our MIAA student-athletes, coaches and administrators!”
 
Two MIAA members finished among the top ten NCAA Division II institutions. Pittsburg State University led the MIAA with an eight-place finish in the 2025-26 standings, followed by Washburn University in ninth.
 
Pitt State teams combined for 673 total postseason points, scoring 285 points in the spring, 200 points in the winter and 188 in the fall. The Gorillas’ 2025-26 seasons were once again highlighted by the university’s track and field programs with both men and women winning national titles at the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, and securing a pair of runner-up finishes at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships.
 
Washburn teams totaled 671 points in NCAA Division II postseasons with an MIAA-leading 341 points in the spring, 145 points in the winter and 185 points in the fall. Six of the Ichabods’ eight spring sport teams competed in the 2026 Division II postseasons, led by the university’s men’s and women’s tennis programs.

The University of Central Missouri placed in the top 15 NCAA Division II institutions with 577 combined points to finish 14th overall. The University of Nebraska Kearney finished 18th with 533.75 total points, followed by Northwest Missouri State University in 23rd with 519 points, and Missouri Southern State University in 40th with 421.75 total points in the 2025-26 academic year.

The finish and point total for every MIAA member institution is listed below. To view the completed 2025-26 NCAA Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings, click here.
 
Grand Valley State University was the winning institution of the 2025-26 NCAA Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup for the 18th time in cup history. The Lakers compiled 1,089.75 total points across their 20 sports and captured national titles in women's basketball, women's cross country and men's outdoor track and field.
 
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. Overall, 15 sports are counted in the final Division II standings, four of which must be women’s volleyball and basketball and men’s basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings.
 
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MIAA FINISHES IN THE 2025-26 NCAA DIVISION II LEARFIELD DIRECTORS’ CUP STANDINGS
 
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