The Jumbos are again in the top five out of more than 300 NCAA Division III schools
The field hockey, men’s soccer, women’s rowing, and men’s lacrosse teams all helped contribute to the strong finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup. Photos: Stephen Blue / Stanton Photo / John Mrakovcich / Keith Lucas
The Tufts University athletics department had one of its best years in school history in 2025-26, capturing an NCAA-high four team national championships and placing second in the nation in the 2026 Learfield Directors’ Cup for NCAA Division III, out of 319 colleges and universities.
The Learfield Directors’ Cup final point total of 1252.50 was the most ever by Tufts, eclipsing the previous high of 1126 set in 2022-23. The Jumbos were also the highest New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) school in the rankings. Tufts finished just 14 points behind winner Washington University of St. Louis, and edged Johns Hopkins University, Emory University, and Williams College in the top five.
The Jumbos’ second-place finish in 2025-26 is the 13th consecutive season that Tufts has posted a Top 10 Learfield Directors’ Cup ranking, and 14th since 1995-96. Tufts ranked in the top five for the sixth time in program history, while the second-place finish tied for the second-best behind the 2021-22 Learfield Directors’ Cup crown for the Jumbos. Tufts also finished second in the nation in the 2022-23 season.
The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s NCAA tournament finishes in up to 18 sports, including mandatory sports of men’s and women’s soccer and basketball.
The Jumbos saw nine teams compete in NCAA events in May to combine for an impressive 512.75 points for the spring campaign. The point tally was the second-most for the spring, just behind Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges.
That point total was booted by a pair of Division III national titles, as men’s lacrosse and women’s rowing captured their third-straight NCAA titles, each adding 100 points to the Jumbo ledger.
Tufts had so many NCAA qualifying teams that it wasn’t able to include all of the point totals due to the contest regulations, but the Jumbos women’s lacrosse and men’s tennis team each made the semifinals, while women’s track and field also captured 15th place at the NCAA championships.
Baseball and women’s tennis also scored for the Jumbos in the spring, while softball and men’s track and field placed in NCAA competition, but didn’t have their point totals included in the final tally.
Tufts came into the spring season ranked fifth in the Directors’ Cup standings. In the fall, Tufts field hockey and men’s soccer were both national champions. Women’s soccer also made its way to the NCAA Final Four after picking up the NESCAC crown, its second in program history.
The Tufts women’s volleyball team won a NESCAC crown as well this fall, earning NCAA regional hosting duties in Cousens Gymnasium. The men’s and women’s cross country teams continued their ascent as two of the best teams in the nation, as the men’s squad took home seventh place at the NCAA championships, while the women’s team was 11th overall. The men’s basketball team had one its best seasons in program history, making the NCAA quarterfinals.
The Jumbos women’s track and field team also earned a ninth-place finish at the NCAA championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Sophomore Elysse Cumberland repeated in the triple jump as an NCAA champion, while junior Simisola Lawal also earned crucial points for the Jumbos at the meet.
“Our finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings is the testament of the hard work of so many,” said Director of Athletics Ryan Pisarri. “The administration, coaches, and especially our student-athletes have worked tirelessly to cement Tufts Athletics as one of the premier Division 3 athletic departments in the country. With four national championships and countless NCAA appearances, this was one of the best years in school history. The future of Tufts Athletics is as bright as ever.”
Tufts earned its first Learfield Directors’ Cup title in 2021-22, while finishing second in 2022-23. The Jumbos were also third in 2016-17 and 2024-25, and added a fourth-place ranking in 2015-16 and 2023-24. Tufts was sixth in 2005-06 and 2009-10. The competition was canceled in both 2019-20 and 2020-21 due to COVID-19.
The final Learfield Directors’ Cup standings are available here [PDF].
