Doane Leads GPAC in Learfield Directors' Cup for 2025-26

CRETE, Neb. – Doane University Athletics continued to rank amongst the nation's elite athletic departments during the 2025-26 academic year, finishing 23rd in the final NAIA Learfield Directors' Cup standings with 532.75 points. The Tigers were the highest-finishing institution in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) for the second consecutive year and recorded their second straight Top 25 national finish.

The Learfield Directors' Cup, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), recognizes overall athletic department success based on performances at NAIA National Championship events throughout the academic year. Points are awarded according to each institution's finish at NAIA national championships.

Doane accumulated points across all three competitive seasons, finishing with 54 points in the fall, 314.75 points through the winter standings, and adding 164 points during the spring championship season to reach its final total of 532.75 points.

The Tigers opened the year by earning 54 fall points, powered by a national championship appearance from the men's cross country program, which finished 20th nationally and contributed all of Doane's fall scoring.

During the winter season, Doane climbed into national contention with 314.75 cumulative points. The Tigers received national championship scoring contributions from competitive dance, men's wrestling, women's wrestling, men's indoor track and field, and women's indoor track and field. Men's Wrestling led the winter effort with a fifth-place national finish while women's indoor track & field along with competitive dance earned sixth-place finishes. Women's wrestling finished 13th and men's indoor track & field placed 33rd to round out the winter season.

Doane's strong spring season maintained the Tigers national Top 25 finish. Baseball contributed 68.5 points with a ninth-place finish at the NAIA World Series, while both outdoor track and field programs added to the total. The men's outdoor track and field team finished 31st nationally and the women's outdoor track and field team added points with a 12th-place finish, helping Doane compile 164 spring points.

Among GPAC institutions, Doane's 23rd-place national finish topped conference rivals Concordia (27th), Dordt (31st), Morningside (37th), Hastings (39th), Midland (52nd), and Northwestern (67th).

The Tigers' continued success across multiple sports reflects the depth and consistency of Doane Athletics, which saw national championship participation and scoring performances from programs throughout the academic year. Finishing among the nation's top 25 athletic departments for a second consecutive season further solidifies Doane's standing as one of the NAIA's premier all-sports programs.