Kentucky Posts Top 30 Finish in Learfield Directors' Cup

The Learfield Directors’ Cup is a prize for the best college athletic departments in the country. Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year, Kentucky gets a grade of “not too shabby.”

Texas took home its fourth Directors’ Cup, as the SEC led the way among all conferences with 11 schools in the Top 25. After all, it just means more.

Kentucky ranked No. 30 overall in the final Directors’ Cup standings. On the one hand, 30 is decent, up two spots from last year, which was the first time the Cats fell out of the Top 30 in 11 years. On the other hand, Kentucky was ahead of only three SEC schools: Mississippi State (46), Missouri (50), and Vanderbilt (58).

To tally the scores, the Learfield Directors’ Cup weighs how each team performed in the postseason. Up to 19 teams can be used to tally the final score, but five of them must be women’s basketball, soccer, and volleyball, along with men’s basketball and baseball. All five of those Kentucky teams made the NCAA Tournament, but those postseason runs were relatively short-lived.

Cumberlands Wins Second Straight Learfield Directors’ Cup

The University of Kentucky was not among the best of the best in Division I athletics, but there’s still a Directors’ Cup Champion from the Commonwealth. For the second straight year, the University of the Cumberlands had the best athletic program in NAIA.

The Patriots are the best of the best in large part because of their track and field programs. Cumberlands won the National Championship in women’s indoor track and field. The men’s team had a runner-up finish. The men’s and women’s lacrosse teams also made it to championship games before falling in the finals.

“Winning this award last year was an honor, but earning it again shows the incredible dedication and teamwork across our university,” said assistant athletic director BJ Temple. “It embodies our #OneBigTeam spirit. This success wouldn’t be possible without everyone—from faculty and grounds staff to coaches, trainers, and our student-athletes—giving their best each day.”