Generals Soar to New Heights: Securing No. 3 Spot in Learfield’s DIII Fall Rankings!

CLEVELAND – The concluding LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup fall preliminary standings for Division III were revealed on Monday morning, with the Generals achieving an all-time high of 343.5 points, thus securing exclusive third place.

Leading the standings is Johns Hopkins with 495.5 points, closely followed by Middlebury in second with 348.0 points. Trailing the Generals are Tufts in fourth with 305.5 points and Emory completing the top five with 303.0 points. The definitive fall standings for Division III will be revised after the Stagg Bowl on January 5, where Mount Union and North Central will compete in Houston.

Points in the Directors’ Cup are allocated based on each institution’s achievements in up to 18 sports during NCAA postseason contests, with points distributed among nine men’s and nine women’s sports.

Washington and Lee had five teams participate in the NCAA postseason this fall, marking a momentous season for the Generals. The women’s cross country squad achieved a program-best placing at the National Championships, finishing 8th overall in its second team appearance to secure 70.5 points. The men’s cross country team also attained its highest-ever team finish, placing 21st and contributing 53 points.

Women’s soccer progressed to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006, earning 64 points. The volleyball team attained remarkable success, advancing to the final site and reaching the Round of Eight, achieving this feat for the first time in program history and contributing 78 points. Concurrently, the men’s soccer team reached the Division III semifinals for the third occasion in four years, accumulating an institutional-best 83 points.

Within the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), the University of Lynchburg holds 19th place with 214 points. Shenandoah University (84 points), Randolph-Macon College (64 points), and Virginia Wesleyan University (50 points) complete the conference’s institutions, all of which finished in the top 100.

The Directors’ Cup has been bestowed since the 1995-96 season, and the Generals have placed in the top 50 a remarkable 17 times, including each of the last eight years it has been tallied.

W&L’s fall teams collectively achieved an 89-20-7 overall record, capturing conference championships in women’s cross country, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and volleyball. The Generals recorded a commendable 38-5-4 record in league contests. The winter update for the Directors’ Cup standings will be published in March.

View the complete fall standings | DIII Conference Standings | NACDA Release | 2024-25 W&L Athletics Profile

About LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup and LEARFIELD

The LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup was established as a collaborative initiative between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are allocated based on each institution’s performance in NCAA postseason championships and respective tournaments.

Please be aware that standings released midseason are unofficial. Official standings will be disclosed following the conclusion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring framework can be accessed on NACDA’s websites: www.directorscup.org and www.thedirectorscup.com.

LEARFIELD stands as a frontrunner in media, data, and technology services in intercollegiate athletics. The company reveals the value of college sports for brands and fans through a multi-channel platform offering inventive content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD’s services encompass licensing and multimedia sponsorship management for collegiate sports properties; publishing; audio, digital, and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; ticket sales; premium seating and fundraising services; branding; and campus-wide business and sponsorship development.

Since 2008, LEARFIELD has acted as the title sponsor for NACDA’s esteemed LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, which acknowledges athletic departments across all divisions.

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Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Established in 1749, W&L stands as the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a highly regarded liberal arts university. With more than 500 student-athletes across 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Discover more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.