University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Repeats Fourth-Place Finish In Final Learfield Directors' Cup Standings
June 25, 2026 | General
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Two national runner-up teams and seven others in the top 10 led the University of North Carolina to a second-straight fourth-place finish in the 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) released the final standings today.
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The Learfield Directors' Cup measures NCAA postseason success in 19 sports (schools must count baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's soccer and volleyball as five of their 19 sports).
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This is Carolina's seventh-consecutive top-10 finish, 10th in the last 11 seasons and 27th in the 32-year history of the competition. Only Stanford and Florida (with 32 apiece) have more.
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The Tar Heels have accounted for 27 of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 57 all-time top-10 finishes.
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Carolina amassed 1,166.75 points this year, the second-most in the ACC. This marks the 27th time in 32 years the Tar Heels totaled the most or second-most points in the ACC.
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Texas won the 2025-26 Directors' Cup with 1,322 points, the Longhorns' fifth title in the last six years.
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Texas, Stanford and UNC, which was the inaugural champion in 1993-94, remain the only schools to win the Directors' Cup.
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This year's top 10 included Texas, Stanford, UCLA, Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Southern California, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State.
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Baseball and women's lacrosse led the Tar Heels this season, as both programs played in the NCAA championship games in their respective sports and were awarded 90 points for second-place finishes.
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Field hockey was a national semifinalist (tied for third), men's lacrosse and women's tennis were quarterfinalists (tied for fifth), men's fencing placed seventh and women's basketball, men's golf and women's soccer each tied for ninth place in the NCAA Championships.
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Twenty-five of Carolina's 28 teams appeared in NCAA post-season play with four finishing in the top five, nine in the top 10 and 17 in the top 25.
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Carolina's all-time average finish in the Directors' Cup is seventh place. Stanford is first and four other current ACC institutions have averaged top-20 finishes (14th by Virginia and 17th Cal, Duke and Notre Dame).
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2025-26 LEARFIELD DIRECTORS' CUP STANDINGS
TOP 10
Place                    School                              Points
 1                         Texas                                1322.00
 2                         Stanford                           1263.50
 3                         UCLA                1199.25
 4                         North Carolina         1166.75
 5                         Virginia                             1148.75
 6                         Florida                              1104.50
 7                         Southern California          1095.50
 8                         Georgia                            1081.25
 9                         Michigan                          1076.75
10                         Ohio State                        1071.25
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2025-26 LEARFIELD DIRECTORS' CUP STANDINGS
ACC SCHOOLS
Place                    School                              Points
 2                          Stanford                           1322.00
 4                          North Carolina         1166.75
 5                          Virginia                             1148.75
11                         Duke                                 1039.25
19                         Notre Dame             898.50
22                         NC State               860.00
29                         Louisville               711.50
39                         Cal                    653.75
41                         Florida State            604.00
42                         Clemson               601.50
54                         Wake Forest            505.75
55                         Virginia Tech            470.50
57                         Miami                 452.00
59                         Syracuse               447.00
64Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SMUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 447.00
83                         Boston College          276.00
84                         Pitt                    267.75
90                         Georgia Tech            233.00
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UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA'S DIRECTORS' CUP FINISHES
2025-26Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2024-25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2023-24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2022-23Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2021-22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th
2020-21 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2019-20 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â no competition due to Covid-19
2018-19 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10th
2017-18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 13th
2016-17 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5th
2015-16 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2014-15 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5th
2013-14 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14th
2012-13 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2011-12 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2010-11 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th
2009-10 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2008-09 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
2007-08 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14th
2006-07 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3rd
2005-06 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2004-05 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9th
2003-04 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2002-03 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2001-02 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2000-01 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15th
1999-2000 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5th
1998-99 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17th
1997-98 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
1996-97 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
1995-96 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th
1994-95 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
1993-94 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1st
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The Learfield Directors' Cup measures NCAA postseason success in 19 sports (schools must count baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's soccer and volleyball as five of their 19 sports).
Â
This is Carolina's seventh-consecutive top-10 finish, 10th in the last 11 seasons and 27th in the 32-year history of the competition. Only Stanford and Florida (with 32 apiece) have more.
Â
The Tar Heels have accounted for 27 of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 57 all-time top-10 finishes.
Â
Carolina amassed 1,166.75 points this year, the second-most in the ACC. This marks the 27th time in 32 years the Tar Heels totaled the most or second-most points in the ACC.
Â
Texas won the 2025-26 Directors' Cup with 1,322 points, the Longhorns' fifth title in the last six years.
Â
Texas, Stanford and UNC, which was the inaugural champion in 1993-94, remain the only schools to win the Directors' Cup.
Â
This year's top 10 included Texas, Stanford, UCLA, Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Southern California, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State.
Â
Baseball and women's lacrosse led the Tar Heels this season, as both programs played in the NCAA championship games in their respective sports and were awarded 90 points for second-place finishes.
Â
Field hockey was a national semifinalist (tied for third), men's lacrosse and women's tennis were quarterfinalists (tied for fifth), men's fencing placed seventh and women's basketball, men's golf and women's soccer each tied for ninth place in the NCAA Championships.
Â
Twenty-five of Carolina's 28 teams appeared in NCAA post-season play with four finishing in the top five, nine in the top 10 and 17 in the top 25.
Â
Carolina's all-time average finish in the Directors' Cup is seventh place. Stanford is first and four other current ACC institutions have averaged top-20 finishes (14th by Virginia and 17th Cal, Duke and Notre Dame).
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2025-26 LEARFIELD DIRECTORS' CUP STANDINGS
TOP 10
Place                    School                              Points
 1                         Texas                                1322.00
 2                         Stanford                           1263.50
 3                         UCLA                1199.25
 4                         North Carolina         1166.75
 5                         Virginia                             1148.75
 6                         Florida                              1104.50
 7                         Southern California          1095.50
 8                         Georgia                            1081.25
 9                         Michigan                          1076.75
10                         Ohio State                        1071.25
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2025-26 LEARFIELD DIRECTORS' CUP STANDINGS
ACC SCHOOLS
Place                    School                              Points
 2                          Stanford                           1322.00
 4                          North Carolina         1166.75
 5                          Virginia                             1148.75
11                         Duke                                 1039.25
19                         Notre Dame             898.50
22                         NC State               860.00
29                         Louisville               711.50
39                         Cal                    653.75
41                         Florida State            604.00
42                         Clemson               601.50
54                         Wake Forest            505.75
55                         Virginia Tech            470.50
57                         Miami                 452.00
59                         Syracuse               447.00
64Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SMUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 447.00
83                         Boston College          276.00
84                         Pitt                    267.75
90                         Georgia Tech            233.00
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UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA'S DIRECTORS' CUP FINISHES
2025-26Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2024-25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2023-24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2022-23Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2021-22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th
2020-21 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2019-20 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â no competition due to Covid-19
2018-19 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10th
2017-18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 13th
2016-17 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5th
2015-16 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2014-15 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5th
2013-14 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14th
2012-13 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2011-12 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2010-11 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th
2009-10 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2008-09 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
2007-08 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14th
2006-07 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3rd
2005-06 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2004-05 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9th
2003-04 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th
2002-03 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th
2001-02 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th
2000-01 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15th
1999-2000 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5th
1998-99 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17th
1997-98 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
1996-97 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
1995-96 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th
1994-95 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2nd
1993-94 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1st
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