Pitt athletics tied with Penn State for sixth in 2022-23 LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings

Pitt athletics strong fall performances moved them into sixth place in the 2022-23 LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Division I standings. The organization compiles results from schools across the country, awarding points based on performances from each program within a specific athletic department. Pitt earned 309.00 points across all of its fall sports, putting the Panthers level with Penn State athletics.

North Carolina leads the competition, earning 382.50 points across all of their fall sports. The Tar Heels won a national championship in field hockey, while also making the national championship in women’s soccer. The ACC leads all conferences across college sports with 10 teams in the top-25. Syracuse and Virginia are the other two ACC programs who accompany Pitt and UNC in the top-ten. 

For Pitt, their 309.00 points marks a department record, surpassing their previous fall high of 298.00 points last year. This fall, volleyball and men’s soccer set the points-scoring pace, earning 83 points apiece thanks to each of their respective Final Four appearances. Women’s soccer earned 63 points following their tournament run. Football earned 52 points following their bowl game success with men’s cross country earning 27 points from two NCAA tournament qualifiers. 

Last year, the Panthers also finished the Fall in the top-10 of the LEARFIELD cup standings, but plummeted down to No. 73 after their winter and spring seasons. With men’s basketball and wrestling’s early success, the Panthers have a much better chance at finishing higher in the standings come year-end. The next edition of the standings is set to publish in April.