University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI leads all MVC institutions in 2025-26 LEARFIELD Director’s Cup standings
6/25/2026 2:15:00 PM | General
Panthers finish 105th in Division I standings for best showing in ten years.
DALLAS --- The University of Northern Iowa Athletic Department finished the 2025-26 school year 105th in the annual LEARFIELD Director's Cup, presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
The award is presented annually by NACDA for success in collegiate athletics with points awarded based on order of finish at various NCAA Championship events throughout the school year. UNI finished with 173 total points during the 2025-26 season and led all Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) schools in the final standings for a second straight year. Northern Iowa's 105th place finish in 2025-26 was its highest since the 2015-16 school year when the Panthers finished 93rd.
"This achievement reflects the outstanding work of our coaches in recruiting student-athletes who excel both athletically and academically, as well as the dedication of the staff who support and enhance the student-athlete experience every day," said UNI Director of Athletics Megan Franklin. "Together, their efforts have produced the strongest finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup for UNI Athletics in the last decade. Additionally, UNI's 105th-place finish among 365 Division I institutions led all Missouri Valley Conference athletic departments for the second consecutive year. Success at this level does not happen by chance—it is the result of an intentional culture of excellence that defines this Legacy Era of Panther Athletics."
The 2025-26 school year provided a number of memorable moments for Panther fans on the national stage. UNI volleyball reached the NCAA Tournament for a fourth consecutive season last fall including a first round victory over Utah, while men's basketball returned to the NCAA Tournament following the program's first conference tournament championship in ten years. On the track, the Panthers sent three athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships with two earning First Team All-American status, as well as one to the indoor championship, also earning First Team All-American honors. Additionally, UNI wrestling continued its strong tradition of national excellence with five NCAA Championship qualifiers.
ABOUT LEARFIELD
LEARFIELD represents more than 200 of the nation's top collegiate properties including the NCAA and its multiple championship events. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, LEARFIELD employs more than 2,200 people offering solutions to multiple college athletic programs and their needs, including sponsorships, NIL, ticketing, fan engagement, licensing and retail, broadcasting and more.
ABOUT NACDA
Founded in 1965, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) boasts a membership of more than 22,000 individuals and more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Members include athletics directors, associate and assistant athletics directors, conference commissioners and affiliate individuals or corporations. NACDA serves as the professional association for those in the field of athletics administration, providing educational opportunities and serves as a vehicle for networking and the exchange of information to others in the profession.
UNI Athletics action can be followed all year long on social media on Facebook (UNI Athletics), X (@UNIAthletics) and on Instagram (@uniathletics). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
