The University of Florida has once again put together a stellar overall performance from its student-athletes in collegiate competition over the past school year. As a result, the Orange and Blue earned a fourth-place finish in the 2023-24 Learfield Directors’ Cup standings.
The honor was bestowed upon the Gators thanks to 11 top-five team finishes over that stretch. Florida’s third consecutive NCAA men’s outdoor track and field title highlighted the school’s top-five finish.
UF’s athletics program is the only one to finish among the nation’s top 10 in each of the last 40 national all-sports standings. This is the 15th consecutive complete season in which the university had at least one national title-winning team.
Florida is one of two programs with a national title each complete season since the 2008-09 campaign; UF has 27 championships in that span.
UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin reacts
“Another NCAA title by men’s outdoor track & field was among many celebratory moments for the Gators this season,” Strickling began. “Eleven top-five Florida finishes include a national-high nine among the top three.”
Florida’s AD went on to mention the effort required to maintain a high level of competition.
“So much effort and training goes into preparing to compete on the national stage so we applaud the competitive spirit of our student-athletes, coaches and staff.”
Learfield Directors’ Cup
The LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, presented annually by the nation’s athletics directors, recognizes the schools with the best overall sports performances in an academic year. The scoring system uses finishes in NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and women’s volleyball championship action.
Additionally, a program can receive points in up to 15 other sports toward its final score. Texas claimed its third Directors’ Cup this season.
In the last 15 seasons, 15 different programs appeared among the Directors’ Cup final top five. Only Florida and Stanford appear in each top five since 2008-09, with Michigan (7), Ohio State and Southern California (6) earning the next-highest number of top-five finishes in that span.
Read more here for details of Florida’s 2023-24 successes.
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