Colorado College posted its highest finish ever and placed in the top 11 percent of all Division III schools nationally in the final 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup Standings, released by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
 
CC finished the '25-26 academic year in 45^th place, its highest in the 33-year history of the Director's Cup, with 395 points, by far the most points among Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference schools, ahead of second-place Texas Lutheran, which finished 139^th. The Tigers' previous best finish was 48^th in 2004-05.
 
This spring, Alison Mueller-Hickler earned first-team All-America honors in the 10K at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, while the women's lacrosse team advanced to the third round of the Division III Tournament and the men's lacrosse, men's tennis and women's tennis teams also qualified for their respective NCAA Tournament, combining for 219 Directors' Cup points.
 
"I am proud to lead a department that strives to win and raise the bar every day," Colorado College Vice President and Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine said. "To make history with our finish and be at the top of our conference in placement speaks volumes about our commitment to excellence across the board. We are so proud of our student-athletes and coaches. It is a great day to be a Tiger and set this championship culture moment."

Beginning in 1993, the Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. Throughout the course of the year, points are awarded based on a school's finish in up to 18 sports - nine men and nine women - in NCAA Championships. Colorado College is uniquely positioned as a multi-divisional institution, sponsoring only 15 Division III sports and 2 Division I sports.

Of the 431 schools competing under the NCAA Division III banner, 317 registered points in the Directors' Cup standings for all seasons. 

In the fall, the men's and women's cross country teams and the volleyball team competed in the NCAA Division III Championships, good for 124 points, while Rabbit Barnes finished runner-up in the indoor mile for 52 winter points.