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Heart of America Athletic Conference
Five Heart Institutions Finish Among NAIA's Top 30 in Final Learfield Directors' Cup Standings
June 16, 2026

Five Heart Institutions Finish Among NAIA's Top 30 in Final Learfield Directors' Cup Standings

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The final 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings were released Tuesday, June 9, with the Heart of America Athletic Conference placing five institutions among the nation's top 30, including four among the top 25, in the final NAIA 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 finish in NAIA National Championships. 

Grand View University led all Heart institutions for the second consecutive year, finishing 13th nationally with 638.50 points. The Vikings captured three NAIA National Championships during the 2025-26 academic year, winning titles in football, men's soccer, and men's wrestling. Grand View also recorded a third-place finish at the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships and a fourth-place finish in competitive dance. 

Benedictine College climbed five spots from the previous year's standings to finish 18th nationally with 619.00 points. The Ravens were highlighted by a second consecutive NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship after completing a perfect 19-0 season. Benedictine also advanced to the NAIA Football Championship Series Semifinals and finished the year ranked No. 3 in the final NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll. 

William Penn University made one of the largest jumps among Heart institutions, improving 28 positions from 52nd to 24th nationally with 514.00 points. William Penn scored points in 10 sports, highlighted by a national runner-up finish in women's wrestling, a national semifinal appearance in men's lacrosse, a national quarterfinal appearance in men's soccer, a second-round appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series, and a berth in the NAIA Men's Volleyball Opening Round. 

Central Methodist University finished 26th nationally with 498.75 points. The Eagles were led by a third-place finish at the NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Championships and a seventh-place finish at the NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Central Methodist also captured Heart championships in women's indoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, softball, and women's soccer during the 2025-26 campaign. 

MidAmerica Nazarene University climbed 12 spots to 28th nationally with 473.00 points, giving the Heart five institutions among the nation's top 30. The Pioneers were highlighted by a sixth-place finish at the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship and a men's soccer program that captured the Heart Tournament title before advancing to the NAIA National Championship semifinals. MidAmerica Nazarene's women's basketball program also claimed both the Heart regular-season and tournament championships. 

The Heart's depth was further showcased by Mount Mercy University (43rd), Missouri Valley College (48th), Park University (56th), Missouri Baptist University (71st), William Woods University (92nd), and Baker University (93rd), all finishing among the top 100 nationally. Park recorded the conference's largest year-over-year improvement, jumping 46 spots from 102nd to 56th. 

The final Heart institutions in the 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings:

  • 13th – Grand View University (638.50)  

  • 18th – Benedictine College (619.00)  

  • 24th – William Penn University (514.00)  

  • 26th – Central Methodist University (498.75)  

  • 28th – MidAmerica Nazarene University (473.00)  

  • 43rd – Mount Mercy University (410.50)  

  • 48th – Missouri Valley College (384.50)  

  • 56th – Park University (353.00)  

  • 71st – Missouri Baptist University (263.50)  

  • 92nd – William Woods University (190.50)  

  • 93rd – Baker University (189.50)  

  • 137th – Graceland University (81.50)  

  • 186th – Culver-Stockton College (10.00)  

 

Overall, 13 sports are counted in the final NAIA Directors' Cup standings, four of which must be men's basketball, men's soccer, women's basketball, and women's volleyball. The next highest nine sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the final standings. 

Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's website at www.directorscup.org. In addition, please visit www.thedirectorscup.com and follow on X @ldirectorscup. 

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About Learfield: Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions. 

About The Heart of America Athletic Conference: The Heart of America Athletic Conference—commonly known as The Heart—is one of the most respected and innovative conferences in small college athletics. Founded in 1971, The Heart is a proud member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and is home to 16 full member institutions across the Midwest. Its members represent a dynamic mix of public and private universities united by a commitment to academic excellence, competitive athletics, and character-driven development.