Jan. 12, 2006

The University of Notre Dame remains in first place in the final set of fall sports standings released in the 2005-06 United States Sports Academy Division I Directors’ Cup all-sports competition sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (formerly known as Sears Directors’ Cup).

Fall NCAA competition earned the Irish 412 points based on their third-place finish in men’s cross country (85 points), their seventh-place finish in women’s cross country (69 points), their quarterfinal appearance in women’s soccer (73), their third-round appearance in men’s soccer (64), their regional semifinal appearance in women’s volleyball (64) and their 11th-place finish in football based on the final USA Today poll (57).

This marks the second straight year Notre Dame has ranked atop the final fall standings – and its 412 points are its highest-ever fall total.

Penn State (308.5 points) ranks second, thanks to its third-place finish in football and its NCAA semifinal appearance in women’s soccer. Stanford (282) is third, thanks to its ’05 NCAA title in women’s cross country and a runnerup finish in men’s water polo. Duke (second in field hockey, third in women’s cross country) is fourth, followed by Wisconsin (men’s cross country NCAA champion).

The current standings include results from NCAA fall competition in women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s volleyball, men’s Division I-A and I-AA football, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s water polo.

The first set of winter standings will be available March 23.

In previous years in which the Directors’ Cup competition has been held, Notre Dame has finished 11th in 1993-94, 30th in 1994-95, 11th in 1995-96, 14th in 1996-97, tied for 31st in 1997-98, 25th in 1998-99, 21st in 1999-2000, 11th in 2000-01, 13th in 2001-02, tied for 13th in 2002-03, 19th in 2003-04 and 16th in 2004-05.

Here are the current standings:
1.Notre Dame 412
2.Penn State 308.5
3.Stanford 282
4.Duke 280
5.Wisconsin 277
6.UCLA 255
7.Texas 244
8.(tie)Colorado and USC 240 each
10.Ohio State 224.5
11.California 223.5
12.North Carolina 213.5
13.Santa Clara 206
14.Maryland 200
15.Arizona 197.