Who has the best overall athletic program in Division I? The answer is Stanford.
The Learfield Cup is resented annually to the school that finishes first in Cup standings based on a point system for finishes in NCAA championships. A national champion receives 100 points, runnerup 90 and it goes down from there. A school can receive points in as many as 19 sports.
In the 29 years that the Cup has been presented, Stanford has finished first 26 times and second the other three.
North Carolina was the first winner for the 1993-94 academic year. Stanford won the next 25 years. Texas was the winner for 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Stanford edged Texas for the just completed year. It came down to the baseball super regional between the Cardinal and the Longhorns. Stanford won the decisive third game to advance to the College World Series by pushing across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth when a Texas outfielder lost the ball in the lights.
The Cup was not awarded for 2019-20 because Covid canceled spring sports. Stanford led after the winter season, with Michigan second.
Final top 10 for 2022-23:
Stanford.............1339 points
Texas.................1306.5
Ohio State.........1210.75
Southern Cal.....1073
Georgia.............1072.5
Michigan...........1045.75
Virginia..............1032.5
North Carolina...1030.5
Florida...............1001.5
Tennessee........1000.75
Florida has never finished first, but is the only school besides Stanford to be top 10 every year.
Ole Miss was 37th this year with 593.75 points, Mississippi State 55th (430) and USM 157th (109).
Other 2022-23 cup winners were Grand Valley in Division II, Johns Hopkins in Division III and Indiana Tech in NAIA
