Lobos Finish 61st in Learfield Standings
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — For the fifth time in six years, The University of New Mexico picked up more Learfield Director’s Cup points than any other Mountain West school, and the Lobos finished 61st overall, fifth among all non-Power 5 institutions.
The overall finish is two spots higher than in 2015-16, when UNM was 63rd. It also marked the 15th consecutive year that UNM has finished in the top 75, and the ninth straight year inside the top 65. UNM’s best finish was 41st in 2011-12, and its top point total of 522 was in 2009-10. This year the Lobos picked up 423.0 points, its sixth-highest point total.
The Learfield Director’s Cup honors institutions for achieving national success in both men’s and women’s sports. The program began in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today, it was expanded in 1995-96 to include Division II, III and the NAIA. In 2011-12, it was again expanded to include Junior and Community Colleges.
In Division I, points are awarded for as many as 20 sports per institution (10 men’s and 10 women’s maximum), and the points are based on NCAA finishes. No points are awarded for conference titles. The national champion in any bracketed championship could earn up to 100 points, with points diminishing incrementally based on a scoring rubic devised by NACDA.
In the Fall, UNM picked up points in women’s cross country (72 points), men’s soccer (50 points) and football (45 points). In the winter UNM received points in skiing (69 points) and men’s indoor track and field (50 points). In the Spring, UNM picked up points in men’s outdoor track and field (50 points), men’s golf (47.5 points), women’s outdoor track and field (39.5 points).
New Mexico’s Year-by-Year Finishes in the Directors’ Cup
Year | Place | Points | Place Non-BCS or Power Five/MW |
1993-94 | T-54th | 238.5 | 10th |
1994-95 | 54th | 269.5 | 9th |
1995-96 | 43rd | 385.5 | 4th |
1996-97 | 50th | 302 | 8th |
1997-98 | T-51st | 180 | T-8th |
1998-99 | 80th | 100 | T-22nd |
1999-00 | 86th | 181.5 | 25th/4th |
2000-01 | 102nd | 160 | 37th/5th |
2001-02 | T-77th | 238 | T-18th/T-4th |
2002-03 | 59th | 314.5 | 8th/3rd |
2003-04 | 61st | 315.75 | 9th/3rd |
2004-05 | 48th | 395 | 5th/2nd |
2005-06 | 59th | 285 | 6th/4th |
2006-07 | 65th | 303.5 | 10th/4th |
2007-08 | 74th | 276 | 15th/3rd |
2008-09 | 62nd | 335 | 9th/4th |
2009-10 | 47th | 522 | 4th/3rd |
2010-11 | 57th | 368.5 | 6th/3rd |
2011-12 | 41st | 516 | 2nd/1st |
2012-13 | 51st | 445.25 | 3rd/1st |
2013-14 | 51st | 447.5 | 5th/1st |
2014-15 | 58th | 423.5 | 6th/1st |
2015-16 | 63rd | 370.0 | 7th/2nd |
2016-17 | 61st | 423.0 | 5th/1st |