UO release - The University of Oregon athletics department recorded its highest finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup in eight years, finishing 18th in the final standings released today. This year marks the seventh time the Ducks have finished in the top 20 and is the best finish for Oregon since placing a school-record ninth in the 2016-17 academic year.  Oregon's strong showing was fueled by top-25 national finishes in a wide range of sports, including volleyball, women's golf, women's cross country, men's cross country, softball, the national champion women's indoor track and field program, women's outdoor track and field, men's indoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field, women's basketball, men's basketball, and football. The total of 12 programs finishing in the top 25 in their sport is an increase from nine a year ago.  "The broad-based success this year is a testament to the incredible commitment and talent of the student-athletes, coaches, and staff across all of our programs," athletic director Rob Mullens said. "Oregon Athletics places a high priority on achieving broad-based excellence, and this year's success—including eight Big Ten championships and a national title in women's indoor track and field—reflects that high standard. I'm proud of the way our teams have competed while also achieving at a high level in the classroom. With the foundation in place and the momentum carrying forward, the future of Oregon Athletics is incredibly bright."  The Directors' Cup measures overall athletic department success each year and is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Schools earn points based on team finishes in NCAA Championship events across up to 19 sports, including required scores from baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's soccer, and women's volleyball. A national championship nets the maximum of 100 points awarded, with additional points awarded for high finishes across all other sports.  Oregon student-athletes excelled academically this year as well, as the Ducks posted a department-wide GPA of 3.17 for the 2024–25 academic year, including three Academic All-Americans and more than 200 UO student-athletes earning Big Ten All-Academic honors.