CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Four Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) institutions finished among the top 100 of 317 NCAA Division III schools in the final 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup standings, highlighting the conference's depth and success across multiple sports throughout the academic year.
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed through a partnership between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on an institution's finish in NCAA Championships. In Division III, up to 18 sports count toward the final standings, four of which must be men's basketball, men's soccer, women's basketball, and women's soccer, while the next 14 highest-scoring sports are also included.
Hope College
Hope paced the conference with a 15th-place national finish and 724.25 points. The Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen accumulated 199 points during the fall season, receiving 51 points from a 23rd-place finish in men's cross country, 48 points from a 26th-place finish in women's cross country, and 50 points each from football and volleyball after both programs finished 17th nationally.
Hope added 259 points during the winter season. Women's swimming and diving recorded a ninth-place national finish for 69 points, while women's basketball contributed 64 points with a ninth-place NCAA Tournament finish. Women's indoor track and field earned 54.5 points after placing 19th nationally, men's swimming and diving totaled 46.5 points with a 26th-place finish, and men's basketball added 25 points after finishing in 33rd place.
The spring season produced Hope's highest point total with 266.25 points. Men's lacrosse led the way with a fifth-place national finish and 73 points. Women's outdoor track and field contributed 62.25 points after placing 13th nationally, while women's lacrosse and women's tennis each added 50 points with 17th-place finishes. Men's outdoor track and field rounded out the spring scoring with 31 points after finishing 41st.
Calvin University
Calvin finished 25th nationally with 600.50 points. The Knights earned 240 points during the fall, highlighted by a fifth-place national finish in volleyball that generated 73 points. Women's soccer added 64 points with a ninth-place finish, women's cross country earned 53 points after placing 21st, and men's soccer contributed 50 points following a 17th-place national finish.
Calvin totaled 180.5 points during the winter season. Women's indoor track and field led the way with a sixth-place national finish and 73.5 points, while men's swimming and diving placed 12th nationally for 64.5 points. Women's swimming and diving added 27 points with a 39th-place finish, and men's indoor track and field contributed 15.5 points after finishing 56th.
The Knights earned another 180 points during the spring. Women's outdoor track and field posted the highest NCAA finish among all MIAA programs during the year, placing fourth nationally and earning 80 points. Men's golf and softball each added 50 points after finishing 23rd and 17th place, respectively.
Trine University
Trine placed 86th nationally with 243.50 points. The Thunder scored 69 points during the fall thanks to a ninth-place national finish in women's cross country.
Trine added 68 points during the winter season, with women's basketball contributing 50 points after finishing 17th nationally. Women's indoor track and field added 18 points following a 55th-place finish.
The Thunder's strongest season came in the spring, totaling 106.50 points. Softball accounted for 90 points after advancing to the NCAA Division III Championship Series and finishing as the national runner-up. Women's outdoor track and field contributed an additional 16.5 points.
Adrian College
Adrian rounded out the MIAA's top-100 finishers, placing 100th nationally with 206.50 points. The Bulldogs accumulated 118.5 points during the winter. Women's wrestling led the winter effort with 58.5 points following a 16th-place national finish. Men's wrestling added 35 points after placing 39th nationally, while women's ice hockey earned 25 points with a ninth-place finish.
Adrian scored 88 points during the spring season. Baseball generated 83 points after advancing to the NCAA Division III College World Series and finishing third nationally. Women's outdoor track and field added five points with a 72nd-place finish.
Broad-Based Excellence Across America's First Conference
The University of Olivet was the next-highest MIAA institution in the standings, placing 150th nationally with 120 points. Kalamazoo College finished 165th with 100 points, followed by Saint Mary's College in 234th with 51 points, Alma College in 236th with 50 points, and Albion College in 270th with 30.5 points.