Tennessee continues to display success throughout the intercollegiate athletic realm, earning a third consecutive top-six ranking in the Learfield Directors’ Cup.
Volunteers and Lady Vols teams combined for a No. 6 finish in the standings released Thursday by the National Association of College Directors of Athletics, matching Tennessee’s showing during the 2022-23 school year. The school had its best result ever in 2023-24, placing third behind Texas and Stanford.
“We are thrilled to have achieved success across all 20 of our sports, culminating in this sixth-place finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White said in a release. “This result not only ties for our second-best finish in school history but also marks the first time we have achieved a top-10 ranking for three consecutive years. Congratulations to all our exceptional student-athletes, coaches and staff for giving their all for Tennessee!”
Texas won the 2024-25 Directors’ Cup in its first year as a Southeastern Conference member, with Southern California, Stanford, North Carolina and UCLA rounding out the top five.
Before this three-year run, Tennessee’s best showing in the Directors’ Cup was a No. 7 finish in 2006-07. The university placed 26th in 2020-21 and 13th in 2021-22, which was White’s first full year as athletic director.
All 20 sports in which Tennessee competes reached the postseason, matching the accomplishment first attained last year. Tennessee is the only power conference school to have each sport advance to the postseason in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Tennessee did not celebrate any national championships this past year but had five programs finish among the top five teams and 12 programs among the top 15. It was the only university with teams in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, the Sweet 16 of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments, and the super regionals of the NCAA baseball and softball tournaments.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.