GREENVILLE, S.C. — Riding the strength of NCAA Tournament appearances by five sports, including a final four berth by men's soccer, Furman University once again paced all Southern Conference schools in the 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup competition, according to final standings announced today.

Furman, which finished 135th overall among 298 Division I schools based on points scored for NCAA Tournament qualification, ranked first among SoCon institutions, ahead of Samford (138th), UNC Greensboro (159th), Chattanooga (173rd), Mercer (185th), The Citadel (214th), and Wofford (265th).

Furman has paced SoCon schools eight times over the last 10 years and was the league front runner in March of 2020 when the worldwide Covid pandemic halted competition.

"Finishing first among the Southern Conference in the Learfield Directors' Cup for the eighth time in the past ten years is a remarkable reflection of the sustained excellence that defines Furman Athletics," said Jason Donnelly, Furman's Vice-President of Intercollegiate Athletics.  "This achievement is a testament to the collective commitment of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, university leadership, alumni, and supporters who strive for excellence every day in competition, in the classroom, and throughout our campus community. We are honored to represent Furman on the national stage and proud to be recognized among the nation's most successful broad-based athletics programs. This accomplishment reflects a culture built on consistency, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence across our entire department."

Furman's 124.5 points this year were earned on the merit of men's soccer, men's basketball, and women's golf teams qualifying for NCAA Tournament play.  Soccer was by far the biggest points contributor, accounting for 83 points following the program's 16-2-5 campaign that included SoCon regular season and tournament championships on the way to a College Cup national semifinal finish.

Furman's men's and women's cross country teams claimed SoCon Tournament championships for the 13th consecutive year and participated in NCAA regional meet competition.

Paladin Athletics ranked third among state institutions, trailing only Clemson (42nd) and South Carolina (44th).  

College of Charleston (155th), and South Carolina Upstate (173rd) rounded out the top five among Palmetto state representatives.

Texas won the competition, followed by Stanford and UCLA.

Click HERE for the full release and 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup 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 NCAA Tournament competition finish in up to 20 sports in Division I — 10 men's and 10 women's.

Furman's strength in the Learfield Directors' Cup competition mirrored the program winning Southern Conference Commissioner's Cup (men) and Germann Cup (women) all sports competitions for the 2025-26 school year.